EVER INCREASING

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 3

EVER INCREASING

Attendance At Service Clubs In Wellington

With ever-increasing attendances which are proof of their popularity, T\ ellington’s services clubs are continuing to fill a great need in the leave periods of men of the forces. Here rest, relaxation, entertainment, light refreshments, and often hot meals as well, help to make servicemen feel more at home. Staffed by voluntary helpers, the clubs do all they can for the men, and their popularity is well earned. The A.N.A. cafeteria returns show that double the number of hot meals are prepared and served each week as previously. There have been extensive improvements to the ballroom and annexe, the orchestral dais has been raised three feet and shifted back, making more dancing space and improving the acoustics ot the room. Permanent sitting accommodation has been installed around the annexe, which is used for dancing, relieving the daneing space in the ballroom. On Wednesday evening Mrs. J. L. Allen provided the dance music, L/Ac. Percy GeddeS played extras, and Private J. Third sang. The cafeteria committee extends grateful thanks to the following for gifts:— Karori League of Mothers, substantial sum of money; I‘atea Women’s Home Guard, per Mrs. G. F. Broker, case of provisions and vegetables; Pahiatua and Eketahuna Red Cross, per Mrs. C. Walker, two cases provisions: manager, Kakaramea Dairy Co., box of butter; iv . and R. Fletcher, Ltd., per Mr. A. Rowlands, three cases preserved meat and paste; T. H. Walker and Sons, Hawera, carton of cooked ham; Mr. Arthur Horrobin, Ohariu Valley, sack of carrots; Mrs. F. Burgess, Paraparaumu, vegetables. Thanks are also extended to Mrs. H. Rees, Tinakori Road, and Mrs. G. St. George, Wright Street, for the gifts of iron boilers. The girls’ auxiliary members are requested to note that dancing begins every evening at 7.50. Evening frocks are the accepted wear for Saturday night, excepting for those members, in uniform. Members of the Ramahi Youth Movement conducted the programme at the Catholic Services Club during the weekend. Dancing was the main attraction on Friday and Saturday nights. A feature of yesterday’s programme a character dance, the czardas, by Miss Kathleen McDonald. Excellent musical items by visiting servicemen svere appreciated by a large audience. Tastily prepared hot meals were enjoyed by crowds of servicemen at the club. An innovation at the Public Service Women’s Club was the tea dance held on Friday from 5 till 9, a large crowd being present. 'During the evening the P r e si ; dent, Mrs. J. G. Young, announced that the radio-gramophone had been presented to the club by the I J ublic Works Department, and their representative, Miss K. Burke, was asked to express the club’s thanks to the Department. Miss Burke played the first record. A buffet tea, including hot savouries and scones, was served. Dancing continued long after 9 o’clock, the crowd seemingly reluctant to leave. The committee for .the dance was the Misses G. Griffin, V. O’Hanlon, M. McCarthy. J. Hopper, L. Truman, J. Goggin, J. Wilson. Mr. K. Mitchell was M.C. An orchestra, consisting of piano and drums, supplied, the music, the players giving their services. Saturday’s dance was popular. Ine hostesses were Miss Yorston, M rs - Meiklejohn, Mrs. Black, and Miss Shepherd. The lounge, with its decorations of spring flowers, was ’popular with nondaneers. Assisting members on Saturday were girls of the Social Security Department. , , , Mr. and Mrs. A. Meek were host and hostess for the tea at the Y.M.C.A. last night, the meal being served by members of the Y.M.C.A. girls’ auxiliary. .Special guests were Mrs. Poole, Mr. Dennis 100‘U and Miss Clark. The chairman was Mr. R. J. Wright. Some 350 men were entertained, the tables being bright with icelaud poppies. Mrs. Meek was the recipient of a birthday cake which was shared by men whose birthdays were in the same month as hers. Musical honours were accorded the host and hostess, and votes of thanks were expressed from representatives of all arms of the services. Items were as follows :—Violin solo, Miss Ruth Reid ; vocal solo, Mrs. Echoff; saxophone quartet, Flight Sergeant Simpson, Corporal Robb, Corporal Floyd, L/4 C - Harris; elocutionary item, Miss Monica Bell; instrumental trio, Miss Ruth Reid, Miss Ormi Reid, Miss Nora Gray; clarinet quartet. Corporal Robb, Corporal McCaw, L/Ac. Girvan, L/Ac. Harris; accompanist. Miss Nora Gray. Llie community song leader was Mr. H. Hmdle, and th'e pianist Mr. Wood. On Saturday night, the secretary of Webby’s Club, Miss Joan Martindale, presented a birthday gift to the president, on behalf of the girls. On the actual anniversary day a’ sheaf of flowers was sent to Mrs. Webb. A band played for dancing and yesterday’s savory tea was served by women helpers, who as usual provided cakes for the weekend dances. The club activities are, curried on as usual at the room opposite the club, this being kindly lent by Miss Kathleen Connor. It is hoped that the old club rooms will be available soon, when the usual Friday dances will be continued. Two dances were held at the National Club on Saturday, the usual tea daiice. at which dinner for the men and a buffet meal for the girls were served and a large dance from eight till midnight, supper being served. Misses P. Hogg and B. McLaren were conveners for the tendance. Mrs. D. J. Fyfe was in charge of a group of helpers from Wellington West electorate yesterday. They were Mesdames G. Burt, J. D. Willis, A. S. Morley, A. 11. Hitching, J. Frost, List, Misses T. Wallace, D. Goff and N. Fyfe. Generous gifts of pork, vegetables and pies were received for weekend meals. Several sittings were necessary in the Y.W.C.A. cafeteria to accommodate those seeking meals during the weekend entertainments. Cafeteria helpers were members of the Wellington East College Parents’ Association and the Younger Business Girls’ Club of the Y.W.C.A. The Karori Y.W.C.A. girls took duty on the cloakrooms. Supper was given by. the women of St. Michael’s Church. Generous gifts of vegetables from the Russell Terrace laifd groups of the W.W.S.A. as well as other gifts were welcomed. The Rev. Ashley Fetch conducted the Sunday service and a sing song and a concert was provided by the Tin Hat Club.