ON HEELS OF JAPS

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 10

ON HEELS OF JAPS

N.Z. GIRLS ORGANISE CLUBS

In Rangoon three weeks • after the departure of the Japanese, Misses Huth White and Betty Lorimer, New Zealanders on Miss Begg's overseas staff, have already begun the reorganisation of the Y.W.C.A. which had been completely wiped out during the Japanese occupation. In a letter to Miss Ethel Law, national general secretary, Miss Ruth White describes the club recently opened in a, hotel which had been used as a Japanese officers' mess. Most of the buildings round about had been bombed, she wrote, but this one was intact. Though it had been found in a state filthy beyond description, it was a .-very- different place now. said the writer, with leaks mended, plumbing repaired, and having been furnished and curtained. Almost immediately after the- service was "open, a whole hospital staff of 50 had come to eat and sleep in the building, as their own quarters had been impossible. The chief concern of the club would be for the welfare of girls of the Armed Services. The greatest joy, wrote Miss White, was when the water supply came on. It took them somewhat, bj' surprise. as the piping in the hotel had not been completely repaired, and there was a sudden spurting of water all over the building. However. Miss White concluded, "we are rather accustomed to getting'wet while the monsoon season is iii full swing." • Miss Lorimer had left Rangoon after six weeks to continue her work of organisation elsewhere, and Miss White is now in charge. APPEAL FROM BURMA. Miss Law also received two cables One from Miss Jean Begg brought the news that she hoped to be home on leave at the end of September. The other from Miss Ruth Woodsrnall general secretary of the . World's Y.W.C.A., conveyed an appeal from the Indian Y.W.C.A. through thp World's Y.Y/.C.A., for. the reconstruction of the Burma association. "All they need,"' said Miss Law, "is 10 000 rupees, or £750 stex-ling, and they want a little of it from New Zealand." Donation to Sick and Wounded. The proceeds of a most successful afternoon held recently by the Paekakariki Women's ■ Institute were I donated to the local sick and wounded fund. Musical and elocutionary Upms were given by Mesdames Mackintosh Skipper. Nyc, and Miss Holtom, Mesdames Edward and Little won competitions, and raffles were won by Mr* Harris and Master Michael Dendy