EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1931, Page 8

EMPIRE SERVICE LEAGUE

WEST COAST BRANCHES. SEWING FOR UNEMPLOYED WOMEN. CHRISTCHURCH, March 19. Thousands of new member's have been enrolled with the Empire Service League as the result of a visit made by the secretary and organiser. Mrs E. A. Hotchkin. to the West Const. Mrs Hotchkin, who lias occupied the nosi.tion since 1917, lias returned to Christchurch enthusiastic over the support accorded the league on the Coast. “Everywhere I went.” she said yesterday, “people were willing to have the objects of the league explained to them and were eager to do anything they could. Thousands of new momers were enrolled.” Before .Mrs Hot likin’s visit to the Coast there was no branch of tin' league in existence there, but by the time she left about eight organisations had sprung up. Branches were formed ■' t Oreymouth, Blackball, Runanga, Kiima'rac Hokitika. Big kotow n and Cobden. All have both adult and children’s sections. SEWING CLASSES.

“Steps have been taken by these branches,” said Airs Hotchkin. “to institute sewing classes to provide work for the many women now out of eninloyment and the girls leaving school, for whom positions cannot be found. This is regarded as a matter of primary importance. Ready-made women’s nd children’s wear pours into A err Zealand from many countries. This could he prevented by an organisation such as has been formed. Tt is in furtherance of our policy of conduction a campaign for the purchase of Empire goods New Zealand goods first, and after that British goods. “AVe have many shop-keepers who have offered to stock the goods made by the women of the organisations. This will be a great help. It lias happened not in one or two isolated cases, hut has been the general rule. T had many inquiries from shop-keepers as to where certain Empire goods could he procured and was very pleased to supply the information. OBJECTS OF LEAGUE. “The objects of the Empire Service League are not as widely known as they deserve and are often misunderstood. AVhile other organisations have been considering campaigns for the buying of Empire goods, we have been going on with this work and if those wanting to assist would consult or fall in line with us, the result would be a combined effort of much more value than smaller schemes distributed over a wide area. The main objects of the league are to foster New Zealand trade, to teach the people loyalty to the Empire and to take every step possible to relieve unemployment.”