HAMILTON BRANCH

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20987, 14 December 1939, Page 4

HAMILTON BRANCH

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN FINAL MEETING OF YEAR The December meeting of the Hamilton branch of the N.c.W. took tne form of an iniormal social gatnermfc at Mrs Ziman’s home in Tnackeray Street, vvnen a large number oi members nad tlie opportunity of meeting Mrs Wallace ana Miss Jamieson, wno have recently returned Horn Great Britain and of hearing graphic accounts of tneir experiences there. Tne members present were: —Mrs D. McIntosh (presiaent), Misses Snell, Saniord, Collins, Faviiie, Rowe, Unger, Blomneid, Gadd, Davies, Broderick, Watson, Mason, Campbell Board, Godlrey, Misses Menzies, Mitchell, Foulstone, Bell and tne non. secretary, Mrs J. D. M. foreman.

Mrs Wallace delivered gieetings to the Hamilton branefl irom tne Gower Street (London; branen oi the National Council of Women of Great Britain, wnose meetings she attended several times. In a charming and informal talk she then described tne conference of the Associated Countrywomen oi the World held in London in 11)38, a Drama League Conference and a meeting oi the General Assembly in Edinburgh, at all oi whicn sne was present. Talk on Jubilee Conference In turn Miss Jamieson gave a vivid word picture oi the Jubiiee Conierence of the International Council of Women held in Earn bur gn in the summer of 1938, at which sne was the sole New Zealand representative among tne 90U women who comprised tne delegation irom 31 different countries. The conference was held in the historic atmosphere of the Assembly Hall of the Cnurch of Scotland and conducted throughout in three languages—English, French and German. Among the many notable women there, pride of place went to Lady Aberdeen, honorary president of tne l.C.W.—a gentle, picturesque, stately old lady, lull of wisdom and knowledge, wno at the age of 84 clearly remembered sessions and delegates of other conferences. She particularly asked Miss Jamieson for news of New Zealand’s previous international conference representatives—Mrs Fraer, Miss Lovell-Smith and Mrs W. N. Benson.

The conference met under the chairmanship of the Baroness Pol Boel, president of the I.C.W. and the subjects discussed were many and varied. They included housing, education, child welfare, public health, occupations for women and many more. Miss Jamieson was particularly impressed by the fact that the women from so many different countries had the same problems and studied the same things, and that, in spite of their different backgrounds and training, in every subject discussed, they all stressed the work which can and must be done by women in order to obtain the peace of the world. Interesting Social Functions In addition to the conference sessions there were executive meetings and meetings of the standing committees. Functions included a Royal garden party at Holyrood House, where the leaders of delegations were presented to the Duchess of Kent, a civic reception given by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, a dinner in honour of Lady Aberdeen, a day at the Glasgaw Exhibition and a visit to Haddo House, Lady Aberdeen’s home. Mrs Mclntosh, in thanking the speakers said that such accounts of the work women are doing overseas are an inspiration to the women’s organisations in New Zealand and very greatly appreciated. She also thanked Mrs Ziman for giving the members an opportunity of meeting one another informally. A social halfhour and supper concluded the last meeting of the year.