AIM OF THE Y.W.C.A.

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 556, 8 January 1929, Page 16

AIM OF THE Y.W.C.A.

“LEAGUE OF NATIONS FOR WOMEN” CONFERENCE AT MARTON ‘ We owe allegiance to a world family —a. league of nations for women," said .Miss Jean Begg, general secretary of the Y.W.C.A. at Auckland, in an address on the aim of the association to the annual conference now being held at Mar ton. fcJhu continued: “And we local people have come to this conference to be inspired, to come out from the. trammels of petty local methods, and to catch the challenge that if we are blind and unresponsive to the guidance of the Spirit at this important period of our existence, we shall awake some day to the tragic fact that we are no longer being used as an instrument to bring the abundant life to women and girle, and that we are isolated from the main currents in modern life.”

_ She emphasised the fact that the Y. -W.C.A. is a' league of 48 nations, 4ot whom gathered. together in Budapest in June to consider especially the social, industrial and economic problems as related to women and girls. up at the conclusion of the address Mrs. {Sutherland Koss asked the representatives of local associations to keejj before all their members the world’s aim. ‘‘New Zealand is one of the keys of the Racifie and its people should know far more about their neighbours both far and near,” Was her plea.

Saturday’s programme would have been marred somewhat by the weather had not the space at Nga Tawa College given the 80 delegates ample opportunity to divide into sectional groups, in the morning for Bible study, and in the afternoon for discussion on some points taken from the industrial reports brought by the different countries to the Budapest world’s committee. The evening programme commenced with an impromptu concert, each delegation providing a “stunt.’’ The conference guests, Mr. and Mrs. Tayler and the Misses Eileen and Clodagh Russell, contributed an exceedingly clever and humorous charade from the four letters Y”. W.C.A.

-An address on the lighter side of European travel by Miss Ethel Law followed by vespers concluded a happy day.

Sunday brought with it the sunshine and out of door study groups and walks were the - order of the day. In the lorenoon Mr. E. .Douglas Tayler addressed the audience on “Music in Many Lands,” suitably illustrated with vocal items by Mrs. Taylor, and piano and gramophone selections. The annual report of the national executive was read by the vice-presi-dent, Dr. Sylvia Chapman. Mrs. L Dawson spoke to the girls’ work section of the report, and Miss W. Mascell to the senior portion. In the evening delegates attended the Anglican service at St. Stephen's ana were the guests of the parishioners at supper. _ This week a different group of Y.W.C.A. members are meeting in Jh e Wellington Diocesan School for GirUFor the past seven days the representatives from six of the New Zealand Communities of Girl Citizens hav® been in conference working out their policy for the ensuing year. . This second conference was open** by Mrs. J. Sutherland Ross, of edin. who, in the absence of .Mm Daniel Smith, chairman of the Nation** Board, is acting as conference president.