ONE CROWDED DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

ONE CROWDED DAY

Women's World

HAVE just been urged by earnest friend to keep a diary. Obvious duty, she maintains, in time of war. Exact logical connection of ideas escapes me, but consent, iij the hope that if diary should fall into enemy hands the record of my diurnal activities will show that New Zealand women are not afraid to take their part-in the great struggle. Begin war work at 7 a.m. by listening to Daventry broadcast through the wall from adjoining flat. Result not altogether satisfactory. Goes something like this: "Yesterday a widespread raid by (inaudible number of) planes took place (not clear where). The R.A.F. were successful in bringing down (how many?) Nazi bombers, while our losses were' (can't quite get it). It is announced that the U.S.A. have (or have not?) consented to (what?) News from Bucharest (or perhaps Budapest) states Germany and Russia has sent a Note to (Russia or Germany!) declaring that more (or possibly no more) troops must be sent "to (Bessarabia or Transylvania). Broadcast ends on (judging by announcer's tone) a cheerful note, but exact cause for confidence unfortunately obscure.

New • Zealand War Worker Begins a Diary

By Cecil F. Hull

The statement that national stations will now resume their normal programmes comes through with clarity and I prepare to arise, asking myself, "What should we do without the B.B.C?" This, in the awkward manner of rhetorical questions suggests the unsuitable answer, "Probably get up earlier." 1 dismiss the suggestion as subversive, if not actually fifth columnar. Bath hurriedly and breakfast, accompanied by intensive reading of war news in morning paper, occupies me till 9 a.m. Due in kind neighbour's fiat for next broadcast at 9.15. This leaves only a quarter of an hour for general domestic duties. Feel, however, that such sacrifices must be cheerfully faced while the Empire is at war. Broadcast at 9.15 bears strong family likeness to that at seven o'clock, hut owing to absence of intervening wall is of less speculative nature'. Rush off to catch tram for city, where I have an appointment for shampoo and set. While dryer is doftig its work, plod conscientiously through magazines, illus-

trating military, naval and air force activities. .Find on leaving beauty salon that nearly 12.30. Fear I shall miss the midday Da ventry news, but fortunately find myself near a radio ehop, where I become one of a standing crowd at the door, listening patriotically to an amplified and slightly" distorted version of world events. Broadcast ends shortly before one o'clock. Find there is no time to buy wool for the balaclava which I hope to finish before end of war. Dash off to friend's house for lunch, during which I hear a repetition of 12.30 broadcast. Owing to extraordinary decision to cut out news summary at 4 p.m. would be left in blind ignorance of war situation for over four hours. So am forced to return to Queen Street to buy early edition of evening paper. This helps to bridge gap till the 5.45 broadcast, to which I listen in by courtesy of another flat-dweller. After dinner hurry away to spend the evening with some relations who never fail to tune in to an Australian station at 8.30. Return home about 10 p.m. and so to bed after strenuous day devoted to demonstrating that in spite of having no wireless set of her. own a carefullyplanned time-table will enable every New Zealand woman to take full share in the Empire war effort.