MEN SILENT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 123, 27 May 1942, Page 4

MEN SILENT

WOMEN STEP IN BIG TOWN HALL MEETING So many women E.P.S. workers cUended a meeting in the Town Hall this morning thdt the gallery had to he opened to accommodate them. The attendance of 2500 was in response to a request, that women should interest themselves In the evacuation scheme. Circulars, said Mr. C. J. Lovegrove. Controller of Evacuation, had been sent to men wardens asking them to find out about accommodation for evacuees in the event of emergency. Only two had replied, and now the women were being asked to take over the work. Mr. Lovegrove expressed disappointment at the response by block wardens. He said he felt the women would do very much better than their husbands in this particular conncction, and when their results came in there would be no room for criticism. Speaking of the evacuation scheme, Mr. Lovegrove said that he was not in favour of billeting women and children in public institutions and that it was preferable that thev should be put into private homes. Any evacuation scheme would not be initiated until instructions had been given to do so by the military authorities. He also mentioned that people receiving evacuees would be paid billeting fees in an amount to be determined by the central committee and confirmed by the Minister. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, gave a brief address at the opening of the meeting and expressed gratification at the large attendance. He said that there was reason to believe that the time was not far distant when they would have to call on women in connection with further activities of the E.P.S., and he regarded such a large gathering as an inspiration and assurance that the women would give their fullest assistance. The Mayoress, Mrs. J. A. C. Allum. who presided, gave an address, and Mr. Tyler spoke on problems concerning water supply.