A FINE GESTURE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 220, 2 October 1940, Page 5

A FINE GESTURE

RUATOKI MAORIS ANXIOUS TO HELP WORK OF THE WOMEN'S CLUB Indicative of the spirit animating the people of the country to-day, pakclia and Maori alike, is a letter received by the Editor from an organisation of Maori women at Ruatoki. The letter, which speaks for itself, reads:—"Please find enclosed cheque for £2 10s, being a donation towards the fund for Londoners who have suffered in the ajaS raids'. "This Club iis a Maori organisation set up in April last with the object of providing local! Maori soldiers with a few com-' forts while in camp and on active service. It is entirely selfsupporting and no outside help has been given or asked for. "We a,re a very keen band of workers, anxious to help where and when we can. We have now provided well for our soldiers! for Xmas and find ourselves in a position to help others andi hope soon to be able to help* you again. "This Club is composed entirely of Maori women, with twoi pakehas, Mrs J. Merritt, president, and Mrs J. B. Dempsteir, honorary secretary and treasurer, governing.'* £90 RAISED SUCCESSFUL TANEATUA FAIR AIDING THE PATRIOTIC FUNDS (Beacon Correspondent) . A very successful fair, promoted by the Taneattia Ladies' Patriotic Committee and held in the Taneatua Hall recently, raised £90 towards the district's quota in the National Patriotic Funds Appeal. A-large attendance ensured that good business was done at the stalls. A number of songs and plays were presented by artists under the direction of Miss Sisam and Mesdames Bennett and Rice, the new song of the Maori Battalion being well rendered and appreciated by the audiencc. Games were well patronised and a stall run by the Opouriao School did remarkably well, the children deserving great credit for their efforts. Those in chargc of the various stalls were:— Patriotic: Mesdames E. H.- Hill and 11. Hill. Women's Institute: Mesdames Carter. Adams, Eagle, Frost, Fox and Mead. - Women's Division: Mesdames Grace and P.. Peebles. Opouriao School: Misses Prideaux and McGoll assisted by Senior girls. Sweet Stall:' Mesdames Munro and McKenzieThe games were under the control of (Quoits) Mr V. Alexander: (Darts) Miss Peebles; (Bagatelle) Miss Tcbhutt. The refreshments were in the charge of Mesdames Bennett, Famuli ar, McPeake, Doolan, Prince and Alexander. Praise is due to the committee and to the honorary secretarj*, Mrs N. Semmcns, for the result of this line effort. A great deal of work had to be done and the patronage extended and the result of the Fair should do much to reward them.