SPORT FOR GIRLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 751, 26 August 1929, Page 13

SPORT FOR GIRLS

INTER-HOUSE CLUB ROOMS OPENED MODEL INSTITUTION . Beautiful decorations provided a riot of spring colour in the new rooms of the Inter-house Girls’ Club on Saturday afternoon, when the openingceremony and function was held. Occupying the whole of the top floor and roof garden of the National Mutual Buildings in Chancery Lane, the club is exceptionally roomy and a model of its kind. On the top floor is a spacious training and recreation room, a dance floor, a comfortable lounge, and kitchen apartments. The roof provides adequate facilities for tennis, basketball and golf. Fully 200 members and guests crowded the dance hall and lounge when Saturday afternoon’s function opened, the number present being eloquent tribute to the interest and support that has brought the movement to successful fruition. Miss Elsie Wagner, president of the club, welcomed the guests and, before inviting the Mayoress, Mrs. A D. Campbell, to open the rooms, traced the growth of the association. AFTER SIX YEARS “We are now on the second rung of a ladder we commenced to climb six years ago,” she said. “The association was started by a little band of Auckland girls from wholesale houses, factories, and retail institutions, and we have never lost sight of our principal object—the founding of a really live girls’ club.” The success of the scheme, she continued, was due absolutely to the work and enthusiasm of the girls themselves who had trained hard for the sports and had carried out the incidental work of equipping the club rooms. There had been considerable trouble in finding suitable club accommodation, but the site secured was an excellent one. In conclusion, Miss Wagner thanked all who had assisted the club, including the firms who had contributed the furnishings and Lieutenant T. P. La.ffey, who had been unsparing in his efforts. “The club starts off with no debts and a small credit balance,” she concluded, amid applause. “SPLENDID EFFORT” In a bright and encouraging speech. Mrs. Campbell, Mayoress of Auckland, declared the club rooms open. “I must congratulate you on the splendid effort you have made to obtain these rooms,’” she said. “You are a thousand strong, but the preparations must have meant hard work for each one of you. Now that the rooms are ready you musn’t rest. I hope every’ girl will work as hard to maintain the roonfis as she did to obtain them.” “As this is the first club of its kind in New Zealand, it is up to us to set a really good example to other cities,” she continued. “In years gone by, it was considered not right for girls to take part in sports. I once received 100 lines for playing leap-frog! But times have changed.” In conclusion, Mrs. Campbell urged the members to keep up the honour of the club and make it a strong centre of good, clean sport. If they did that the sympathy of the public would be with them. RECIPROCAL FEELING Mr. T. Clark, president of the Employers’ Association, said a great transformation had been wrought in the rooms. He congratulated the girls on their achievement, particularly so as it represented the splendid feeling existing between the staffs and the heads of the big firms of the city. He was thankful for the modern system of wholesome fresh air recreations and exercise for girls, and welcomed institutions that helped to this end. “And now-, as a parting word," .said Mr. Clark. “Be good, anc let those who will he clever.” The vital need for the cultivation of a club spirit, without which no institution could be reallv great, was stressed hv Mr. ,T. R. Rondel!. The honour of the trades the club represented was in the keeping of the girls, and he hoped sincerely that the good work would be continued. Afternoon tea was served after the fomal part of the proceedings had closed. Songs were contributed bv Misses Hayward and Berry, while Johnstone’s Orchestra played selections.