NELSON W.W.S.A.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 15 October 1942, Page 2

NELSON W.W.S.A.

annualmeeting ELECTION OF OFFICERS YEAR’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED At the annua! meeting of the Nelson Women’s War Services Auxiliary held in the Fighting Services Club room last evening, Mrs H. Atmore presided, in the absence, through illness, of the president, Miss L. M. Hunter Brown. In a brief address Mrs Atmore paid tribute to the enthusiasm and efficiency of Miss Hunter Brown, and to the excellent pioneer work for the movement carried out by the first secretary. Miss L. Turton, who had resigned during the ! year after working untiringly for the W.W.S.A. in Nelson since its inception. Her place had now been filled by Miss Taylor, who bad already given invaluable service, putting much time and effort into the work. The W.W.S.A., Mrs Atmore said, was a co-ordinating body of women war workers, and she wished to thank everybody who did some form of work in the war effort, whether as members of the W.W.S.A. or of some allied patriotic organisation working in conjunction with it. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:—President, Miss L. M. Hunter Brown; vice-presi-dent, Mrs H. Atmore; secretary, Miss Taylor; committee, Lady Scott, Mesdames Neale, Lock, Page, Hudson. Bowden, Dodds, Robertson. Wallace and Misses J. Stewart, B. Walter, L. Turton and E. Gray. A hearty vote of thanks to the executive for their hard work during the year in directing the activities of the organisation, was moved by Mrs Toomer and carried with acclamation. ANNUAL REPORT The third annual report showed that there were now 24 women’s organisations working for the W.W.S.A. in Nelson, and during the past year they had been called upon to give much of their time and services to the many patriotic efforts and war work in general. This they had all most willingly done, and the results had been more than gratifying. During the year a new sub-branch was inaugurated by residents in the Nelson South district, who found that lack of transport prevented their attending meetings in town. The great increase of the work of the W.W.S.A. in the first part of the year had made it apparent that the work of the branch could no longer be carried on from the secretary’s residence as had been done previously. Accordingly, on application to headquarters, permission was given to rent three rooms on the upper floor of the A.M.P. Buildings. These rooms haff - been in constant use by the secretary. the interviewing officer, and for executive | meetings. Following on the compulsory regis- ' tration of women, and acting on instruc- I tions from headquarters, the executive elected Mrs J. R. Wallace to fill the position of interviewing officer for Nelson. while Mrs H. D. Bennett was chosen to fill that position in Motueka and Mrs J. A. Lockhart in Takaka. NEW WORK The following new work had been added to the activities of the W.W.S.A. during the year:—Making of camouflage nets; house to house collection for patriotic funds, delivery of patriotic posters, staffing of waste paper depot, making arrangements for the weekly patriotic shop, enlisting women for the Armed Services, and embroidering insignia for the Home Guard. The work of making camouflage nets for the Army was taken up with great enthusiasm and a total of 314 nets was sent to Wellington. The house-to-house collection for patriotic funds had been carried out by | 200 women workers who had collected £5.500. The total funds collected to date by means of the weeky patriotic I shop days were £2.085. In pursuance I of the declared policy of the Govern- ! ment of work through the W.W.S.A.. that office became the centre for the j enlistment of women for service with the Armed Forces, and at the request of the officer in charge of Army Headquarters. Nelson, a recruiting meeting was organised by the executive. Large numbers of women and girls had visited the office to make enquiries, but among those who did enlist many were already in essential industries and were held back on that account. In the first draft 49 Nelson girls went to the training camp for a six-weeks’ course, and a second draft was to go shortly. Some 250 "stars” for the Home Guard had been embroidered by members, and these had been sold at 9d each, proving a welcome source of revenue. OTHER ACTIVITIES Last season there were many calls for j volunteer labour in the fields, orchards and gardens, and W.W.S.A. members responded well, many being employed for the whole period at some form of seasonal work. Others, with home ties, had exercised much ingenuity in re ! adjusting their domestic duties and ! spent a considerable time in aiding the j production of the district. The W.W.S.A. worked in close conjunction with the ! placement officer and both he and the : growers had expressed their gratitude I to these workers. Members of the W.W.S.A. were playing their parts in E.P.S. and canteen 1 work. The organisation still enjoyed j the privilege of a monthly broadcast ! from the local radio station when Mrs 1 Atmore or Miss Gray gave an address on the work of tlie W.W.S.A. or appealed

for anything needed to promote its efforts. These talks had proved most successful. From the patriotic wool depot it was reported that 180 pullovers, 2164 balaclavas, 2646 scarves. 913 pairs of socks. 1373 pairs of mittens, and 57 caps had been knitted. Of these 6 pullovers. 804 balaclavas. 991 scarves, and 876 pairs of mittens had been sent to soldiers in camps in Blenheim and districts. The work of making hussifs for the Armed Forces was proceeding and 60 hussifs had been sent to Wellington each month during the past year. The number of khaki handkerchiefs required for each quarterly quota had greatly increased, and a total of 5.826 were made. In the soldiers’ parcels sent away in January and May 4.674 were included. During the year 4.539 Soldiers’ Parcels had been sent from Nelson. These parcels were packed every three months and members of the different organisations and College girls willingly assisted in the work. CO-OPERATIVE ORGANISATIONS The various organisations working in (conjunction with the W.W.S.A. submitted reports of their patriotic activities during the year, which included papier mache work, knitting, bandage making, first aid work, staffing of waste paper depot, camouflage netting, sewing, sending parcels overseas, and organising various functions in aid of patriotic funds. Reports were read from the Church of Christ Ladies’ Guild, the Cathedral Mothers’ Union, the Salvation | Army Home League, the Presbyterian Guild, the Baptist branch W.W.S.A.. Combined Swimming Clubs. Happiness Club. Nelson Townswomen’s Guild. Nelson Girls' College'. St. Mary’s branch W.W.S.A.. Women's Christian Temperance Union. Nelson Women’s Club. Toe H League of Women Helpers. Nelson P. and T. Women’s League. Business Women’s Club. Rebekah Lodge. Methodist Women's Fellowship, Nelson South W.W.S.A.. Nelson West Townswomen’s j | Guild. Tahunanui branch W.W.S.A.. Nel- j son Women's Auxiliary Corps, Nelson College Old Girls’ Association. Nelson i | Plunket Society, and the Nelson Provin- ! icial Girl Guide Association. Social Function At the conclusion of the formal busi- ! ness of the meeting a social hour was spent when members were entertained with two songs by Miss Betty Walter, a 'cello solo by Mrs Dyke Marsh and a one-act play by the playreading circle 1 of the Nelson Women's Club. after I which supper was served.