LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 August 1939, Page 10

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

MASTERTON BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING. ADDRESS BY DR. ELIZABETH GUNN. The annual meeting of the Mastertoil branch of the League of Mothers was held in the Parish Hall yesterday afternoon. The president (Mrs L. B. Maunsell) presided over a large attendance. Visitors were present from the Carterton and Greytown branches. The League Choir sang “Where’er you walk” and “Viking Song.” These items were much enjoyed. A high standard of music has been set by the Choir and the members show keen interest in the practices. Thanks were expressed to Mrs E. J. Coleman for her efficient and willing work as accompanist, to Mrs E. J. Burke for attending to the business arrangements of the choir and to Mrs A. L. Bennett for acting as deputy-leader. Officers were elected as follow: — President, Mrs L. B. Maunsell; vicepresidents, Mesdames E. J. Rich, J. Davie, D. McNeur, F. J. Parker, A. C. Major, G. G. Hancox, and Miller Hope; committee, Mesdames J. Blackwood, E. J. Coleman, L. Hunter, F. Judd, N. Lee, E. G. Norman, E. J. Brown, N. H. Prior, F. Taylor and J. H. Irving; hon secretary and .treasurer, Mrs J. H. Irving; magazine secretary, Mrs F. Judd; card secretary, Mrs N. Lee. “We are very pleased and proud to have Mrs Maunsell again as our president. She has endeared herself to all of us and has been a source of great inspiration,” said Mrs A. C. Major in seconding the motion that Mrs Maunsell be re-elected. Mrs W. A. Michael, who retired from office after acting as hon secretary and treasurer for the past seven years, was presented with a beautiful painting in appreciation of her untiring work.'The presentation was made by the president on behalf of members. The speaker of the day was Dr Elizabeth Gunn, Director of School Hygiene for New Zealand. Dr. Gunn spoke on health and was listened to with close interest and attention. She emphasised the importance of cleanliness in' the home and in schools and the need of house-training for boys and girls—the necessity for tidiness and cleanliness and training children in these habits. She condemned vigorously the common towel in schools and suggested small individual towels, which might be kept hanging on the child’s desk.

Good and well-cooked food also was most essential, Dr Gunn observed. She reminded her hearers of the old adage “God sent the food and the devil sent the cooks.” If all children and also young adults had in their diet each day 11 pints of milk, an egg in some form or other, plenty of butter, green vegetables, an orange or a tomato, some meat or fish, some cod liver oil (which was a food and not a medicine) then, said Dr. Gunn, it would not matter what else they had. Stressing the necessity for sunshine and fresh air, the doctor said that windows should be kept open at night, night air being as necessary as day air. There was need for care in- sun bathing, said Dr. Gunn. Burning from the sun was in no way different from an ordinary burn or scald and required just as much treatment. The need for correct clothing was stressed, the importance of children changing all their, day clothes, the wearing of aertex next to the skin, not 100 many bedclothes —warm and light and the best blanket for the underneath one and not the thinnest one. The lecture was interspersed with amusing reminiscences and was thoroughly enjoyed by all members. Dr. Gunn was cordially thanked. The annual report mentioned that a study circle in connection with the Women’s Pan-Pacific Conference had been formed. The circle had twelve members and was engaged in studying a discussion course, “New Zealand Today and To-morrow.” Thanks were expressed to the St Matthew’s Vestry for the use of the Parish Hall, to the speakers whose addresses during the year had been so enjoyable, to the Press, to Mesdames Irving, Gaskin and Norman for flowers and decorating, to the magazine secretary, Mrs F. Judd, the card secretary, Mrs N. Lee, and to the members who had provided afternoon tea. The tea hostesses were Mesdames K. Anstice, C. Richards, E. H. Morion, J. Mitchell, C. Pickering, G. Dallas, W. H. Snowsill and F. J. Traynor.