WAR COMMITTEE

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 22

WAR COMMITTEE

WOMEN'S PART IDENTIFIED ST. JOHN ASSOCIATION MEETING A largo and enthusiastic meeting of several hundred women was held yesterday at the St. John Ambulance Hall for the purpose of forming a St. John. Women’s War Committee, Mr T. Somerville, president of the St. John Ambulance Association, occupied the chair, and in his opening remarks explained that the purpose of the meeting was to ensure that when the need arose, the women of the city would be organised to give service. “ Once again we find our Empire at war,” said the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen). “ With the war come the sufferings and the worries that so many of ue can’remember, but it is a fine reflection that proud o]d England stands once again in the way of an aggressor.” All were prepared to put up with any hardship, any suffering to see Britain’s cause brought to a successful issue. Lady Ferguson expressed her appreciation of the wonderful response evinced by the large gathering, and of the great interest that had been taken in the movement by the women of Dunedin. She read messages from the Oamaru, Invercargill, and Gore Women’s Clubs, and from Sir Heaton Rhodes. The first brigade of St. John in New Zealand had been born in Dunedin, and ever since men and women had given, and would continue to give, yeoman service. In the days ahead it was hoped that St. John would cooperate with the Red Cross. THE TRADITIONAL PLACE. “We are all glad to have the chance of doing something. We have been restless and nervous these last few weeks. Sixteen thousand miles from the centre of things, the war. of nerves still goes on,” said Dr Marion Whyte. The most important thing women could do was to Ikeep their nerves right. “ In the last war we were taught to hate Germany—but the men at the front did not do that. Wo must remember all that Germany has done for the world; all the love that is in Germany, and not waste our energies yi useless hate. But there is a.mad dog in Europe that must be chained, and we can go about the task coldbloodedly and without hate. Some of the homely practical duties that would help were outlined by Dr Whvte Using modern methods to help out the food supply, filling every corner of the garden with vegetables, being careful about the feeding of families and so relieving doctors from some ol their duties were only some of the ways. “The essential part for women is to keep things sweet, and keep hate away from our Let us as women put our weight in the traditional place,” concluded Dr Whyte. DUTIES REQUIRED. “ Within the last week or two some knowledge has come to us of the duties that wifi bo required of the townswomen of the Dominion, said Mr “ • D Pirrett, Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Association. One of these was to maintain a supply or dressings, and when the committees had been arranged, equipment would be made available for that purpose. The St. John Ambulance did important work in the last war, and the younger generation of brigade members was once again ready for the call. In fact. 75 per cent, of them were now in the Military Reserve, for the most part on the medical side. RULES OF THE MOVEMENT. Rules suggested and adopted at the meeting were that the objects would be as follows: To co-operate during the duration of the European war in the work of the Order of St. John in Otago as regarded the activities of the association, brigade, District Nursing Service, and Sewing Guild. . . . To co-operate in the activities of the joint committee of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross. To represent the Order of St. John on anv women’s organisation formed by tho Mayor’s Emergency Precautions Committee or that may be formed by the mayoress in relation to the present European war. Other speakers included Miss Tomlinson, matron of the Dunedin Hospital, and Colonel G. Barclay. The committee chosen consists of Lady Ferguson (president), Mrs A. R. Falconer, Airs J. R. Fairbairn, Mrs Dora Snioaton, Airs A. G. Melville, Mrs G. Barclay, Airs E. Halstead, Airs H. Wilkinson, and Airs J. C. AVhito, with power to add to their numbers.