VICTORIA LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1921, Page 5

VICTORIA LEAGUE.

THE NEW PLYMOUTH BRANCH. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the New Ply’mouth branch of the Victoria League was held last night in the club rooms, when there was a large attendance of members. The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) presided. Reports were read dealing with the various spheres of work during the year. On behalf of the literary committee the secretary (Miss G. E. Menzies) reported that all the lectures and literary evenings had been well attended. A very high standard was main-’ tained, and fields of knowledge of a wide description had been drawn upon by the lecturers, with benefit to members. A most helpful institution had been started, and the members now numbered 40. A number of Shakespearian works had been read during the evenings, and had resulted in many members receiving tuition in the art of leading aloud. The work of the junior associates was dealt with by the secretary (Miss Park), who announced that this branch now had !H> members. The various activities of the branch during the year were reviewed in the report. The treasurer (Mr. L. C. H. Dawson) presented a statement of Accounts, which showed that the league commenced the year in October, 1920, with a balance in hand of £9O Is 10a, and had concluded the period with a credit of £B7 Is 9d. In addition to the ordinary expenditure they had paid £lOO off the furniture account and £BO on the piano loan. A RECORD YEAR. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the president of the league (Mrs. .C. H. Burgess) said the year just passed had been the most active one in the history of the New Plymouth branch. The acquisition by j the branch of their own clubrooms had been fully justified, and had greatly facilitated the carrying on of the work. The membership was now 400, and it was hoped that many more would join in the coming year and help along the work. During the year the branch had become an incorporated society, and Mrs. Burgess said they were quite up-to-date in this respect, as in reading the annual report from London she learned that the parent league had only been incorporated this year. There was only one other branch in r-e Dominion in a similar position to New Plymouth, this being the Auckland league. Reference to the good work done by the floral committee (through their leader, Mrs. Nicholl) in attending to the decoration of the tables throughout the year, was made by the president. Continuing, she said that on the suggestion of Mrs. List the council decided to start a Friday flower sale day, and this had been carried on successfully. Thanks were due to those who carried on the wotk, to Mrs. List, Mrs. Bremer and Mr. Kingdon, who sent flowers regularly, and to many others who forwarded flowers occasionally. Proceeds from these sales had resulted in the workers in charge being able to hand over a gift of £2l to the house committee, which enabled this body to look after the management of the rooms on a much morp satisfactory basis. The flower sale committee had also handed over £l7 to the piano fund as the result of the Daffodil Day effort. Mrs. Burgess paid a tribute to the work of the house committee under Mrs. Shaw (convener), and said the members were responsible for one of the finest pieces of work that had been donte by the ladies of the league. FEATURES OF THE WORK. Included in those entertained by the hospitality committee during the year were Mrs. George Knowles, Professor Annie H. Abel, and Dr. Elizabeth Gunn, while there had been many visitors from other branches. Five letters of introduction had been taken to London by various members of the league, three to Australia, two to Auckland, and one tc Wanganui. Parcels of comforts had been despatched to the hospital for the children’s ward, and assistance had also been rendered to the Plunket Society, the Okau sub-branch, and the Uruti ladies (for the backblocks mission). Parcels had also been forwarded to Harrow (England) for waifs and strays. The council had been able to help the Y.W.C.A. hostel committee by disposing of £5 worth of their tickets for one of' the dramatic performances. The branch had been represented at the annual meeting in London by Miss Godfrey, who had ’ forwarded an interesting account of the proceedings. Mrs. Burgess gave a special word of praise for the library committee, who had conducted a number of successful evenings, helping the finances, with the result that the branch had paid off the amount owing on the piano. Mrs. Burgess also thanked the officers and members of the committee for the splendid support she had received from them during the year, to Mrs. Russell, who had been in charge of the rooms, and tu the Press. In referring to the successful year experienced, Mrs. Burgess said that it had been individual service multiplied ajid directed, which had produced the results. In speaking to the adoption of the report, the Mayor congratulated the executive on the work they had accomplished, and remarked that the league’s venture of faith in acquiring the club rooms a year ago had met with wonderful success.

The Rev. 0. Blundell referred to the good work done by the league, and said lie was glad to do anything towards furthering the interests of the organisation.

Mr. C. H. Burgess said the league had many branches of work. All of these had not been touched upon yet, and he particularly urged that the incoming committee should devote some attention tc. gathering the young people into the membership. The report and balance-sheet were adopted without further discussion. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: President, Mrs. C. H. Burgess; vice-pre-sidents, the Mayor and Mayoress, Archdeacon Evans, Dr. and Mrs. Home, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Weston, Mr. and Mrs Greig, Mrs. Courtenay, Mr. Moyes, Rev. Harvie, Mr. and Mrs. Mowlem, Dr. and Mrs. Walker, Dr. and Mrs. Brewster, Mr. and Mrs. S. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. last, Mr. C. H. Burgess, Dr. and Mrs. Blackley, hon. corresponding secretary, Mrs. F. 8. Johns; assistant, secretary, Mrs. S. Burgess; hon. treasurer, Mr. L. C. H. Dawson; assistant treasurer, Mrs. Nicholl; organising secretary junior associates. Miss Park; hon. auditor, Mr. Vai Duff; council, Mesdames Hughes, Perry, Denny-Brown, Neal, Alleman, Le May, Corney, Austin, Wyatt, .Eberlet, Misses Earle, Rockel, Sole, Messrs. H. A. Stratford* C. Dwmy-Brown, L. Eth-

erington, A. Thompson, J. Brodie, H. Dempsey, and W. H. Skinner. GENERAL. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing committee and officials. The president made a number of suggestions for the consideration of the committee during the coming year, these including the formation of a field club ami the organisation of parties to make regular visits to the Old People’s Home. She also suggested that an entertainment party might visit the Soldiers’ Club some evening. A vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding concluded the business proceedings, the remainder of the evening being occupied with a' social gathering of members.