TRAVEL CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 228, 25 September 1940, Page 12

TRAVEL CLUB.

EXCELLENT PROGRESS.

YEAR'S PATRIOTIC WORK,

With a membership of 745, an increase of 38 over last year, the Auckland Travel Club has completed the seventh year of its existence, states the annual report, which is to -be presented at the annual meeting on Friday. Lack of sufficient accommodation, however, still compels the keeping of a waiting list. The popularity of the Friday morning tea receptions for visitors to Auckland has been maintained, an average of 400 members attending each week's function. In spite of the fact that war conditions have curtailed travelling for, pleasure, many visitors have been entertained during the year, and overseas ae well as Dominion guests have addressed the meetings.

As a result of the revision of the constitution to meet war conditions, a clause had lieen inserted giving authority for the club to participate in patriotic and philanthropic work and to i How club funds to be spent for such purposes. Since the outbreak of war, the three clubrooms in the Dingwall Building had been the scene of ceaseless activity, Mrs. G. Pezaro heading an efficient band of volunteer workers. Electric sewing machines, electric irons, large , 6tore cupboards, and tables for cutting out patterns, had been installed, and hundreds of garments of all descriptions had been made and forwarded through the Red Cross Society for distribution in England. At the time of the influenza epidemic in the military camps, the club supplied pyjamas, slippers, and other comforts to the emergency hospitals at Epsom and Ellerslie for the soldier patients.

Further patriotic work of the club included knitting for the Royal New Zealand Air Force men and for men on home defence, the installation of a panatrope and radio equipped with amplifiers at St. Matthew's Hall for the use of the Welcome Club for soldiers, organised by Canon R. G. Coats, hospitality to soldiers on week-end leave, the distribution of booke to military camps, and of •rifts for men of the mercantile marine. Bridge parties were also being held to augment funds for purchasing materials for the war chest, and the sum of £23 17/ had been obtained from the two functions already held. As a special tribute to members who have a husband or sons enlisted for national service, a "Matrons of Honour" list has been established. These members wear a red. white and blue bow as a mark of distinction, and special seats are reserved for them at all functions. A sub-committes consisting of several matrons of honour, who are on the executive, have plans in hand for the forwarding of Christmas parcels as a gift from the club to men on service ' overseas. I Proof of the progress of the club is ' seen in the establishment of four other ' Travel Clubs in Xew Zealand, in Wei- : lington, Christchurcli, Dunedin, and ■ Rotorua, au offspring of the Auckland Club. The financial statement snows the club to be in a sound position. j