DISTRICT WOMEN RALLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 260, 20 January 1941, Page 5

DISTRICT WOMEN RALLY

WAR SERVICE AUXILIARY

WHAKATANE BRANCH FORMED

The Deputy Mayor, Mr S. S. Shapley, presided over a representative meeting of district ladies in the Parish Hall last Friday when Miss Amy Kane, member of the Dominion Council of the Women's War Service

Auxiliary <£ave an interesting address on the aims and objects of the organisation. As a result a strong branch was formed, representative of all districts surrounding Whakatane, Not a New Idea. Miss Kane was warmly applauded as she rose to speak." In her inn troductory remarks the speaker said that the Women's War Auxiliary Committee in Wellington thought it would be a good thing if someone would go along to the Bay of Plenty. She apologised for the absence of Mr Sterling, who represented the Minister. He was at present in hospital. The Women's War Service Auxiliary was not a new idea. It was already in operation in England. The auxiliary aimed to classify in groups women with par-

ticular aptitudrs so that their services could be utilised under an emergency. Other women's organisations were urged to carry on their present activities. In New Zealand the people fortunately had not to face th - realities of war but it had come very near a while'ago when the were nearby. She declared that the women of New Zealand must be prepared to sccond the efforts of the Home Guard. It was because of the recognition of organising women in this way that a group of women in Wellington felt the need of getting the movement under way. After a preliminary survey it was realised that such a movement must be of a national character. The Prime Minister was approached and asked for his approval of the schemc. This was grunted on condition that ilj was of a national character. Entirely Voluntary.

The beginning of the auxiliary was that representatives of women's organisations of a national* character were called together for a conference to co-ordinate these organisations, stated the speaker. A central council was elected at that meeting, consisting of twelve representatives from all parts of the Dominion. Four others were added to the twelve. It then became necessary to establish branches all over the Dominion, these being extended as it was thought lit. It was suggested that if a branch was formed in WhakataneN that a committee of eight be elected with one additional nominee elected by the Minister.

There was only one paid officer of the auxiliary in Wellington, that the secretary. It AA'as the Minister's AA r ish and desire that the auxiliary should be a A r oluntary organisation with as little outside interference as possible. The Avomen would entirely manage their OAvn organisation. The first Avork Avas to get a registration of the Avhole of the women power in the district. The idea of tlu- Avhole thing AA T as that the women should be an auxiliary to the men of the country.

Work on Farms,

Miss Kane said that women in such a centre as Whakatane AA r oukl probably be called upon, to help more and more on the farms.

One thing tliat must be avoided was that existing organisations should be disorganised, she said. The ide-a behind the auxiliary Avas service: to be ready and fit so tltat if any major disaster happened the women would be prepared. The Red Cross workers who had gone through the course and had also done GO houvs hospital training, could still help in other directions. They all hoped and prayed it would not be necessary to call on IJie auxiliary to put their knowledge and training into active operation Miss Kane told of a speaker in Wellington, who had addressed women auxiliary workers and stated that tkey should not be disappointed if they appeared to have, nothing much t» do in the active work. She had tokl them that 90 per cent of the time was spent in training, 9 per cent of the time in getting to the job ajul only 1 per cent of the time spent in doing the iob. (Continued in mcxt column).