ANXIOUS TO HELP WAR EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 101, 23 January 1943, Page 6

ANXIOUS TO HELP WAR EFFORT

Recently returned to Wellington after 14 months in Rarotonga as its queen or paramount chieftniuess is Mrs. Rio Love, who. more correctly, is known as Makea Nui Takau Arikei. She is delighted to l.e reunited with her young daughters and is seeking a wartime post as she is anxious to do her share in helping the war effort directly and in any way. The women of Rarotonga are knitting constantly nnd sending the comforts they make to New Zealand for men of the forces, Mrs. Love said. While in Rarotonga, she organized a canteen group of young girl workers who assembled every night to serve supper to the troops at 10 o’clock. Now that she is in Wellington, Mrs. Love is acting as organizer of a party of Rarotongan girls, who are giving much enjoyed concerts at the camps. Ihe instinctive love of music and rhythm which is inherent in every Rarotongan finds full expression in the chants, songs and dances they perform. Mrs. Love composes som» of the music and songs for these performIn the work they are doing in Wellington homes, the girls often miss being able to indulge their desire for musical selfexpression. through which means they have a natural outlet for their feelings; therefore, the opportunity of taking part in these entertainments gives the girls much pleasure. In accordance with tradition, officers at the camps are decorated witli the leis that the girls have worn during the performance. Flowers tor making these come from gardens in Wellington. Between 20 and -30 girls are usually available to stage a show. Iler first appearance as leader of tb“ troupe since her return will be made by Mrs. Love on Tuesday night, when the girls will give a concert for the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment. Mrs. Love s husband, the late Lieutenant-Colonel E. T. W. Love, commander of the Maori Battalion in the Middle East, who was killed in action, was previously attached to this regiment. Through the offices ot Mrs. P. Fraser, a concert was gicen recently at an American hospital, when patients and staff were enthusiastic in their appreciation of this unusual entertainment. , . T. It is Mrs. Loves hope that the Rarotongan girls in Wellington, in whom she takes a deep interest, will soon be able to make a direct contribution to the war effort, bv joining an organization like the W.W.S.A., of which .she is a member ; in that way the girls would feel they were contributing directly to work of a patriotic nature