Women's Section Of R.S.A. Formed At New Plymouth

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1942, Page 4

Women's Section Of R.S.A. Formed At New Plymouth

A motion to form a women's section of the New Plymouth Returped Services' Association was carried unanimously at a meeting of about 150 women at the New Plymouth trades' hall on Friday afternoon and officers were elected. The meeting, which was called by Mr. E. J. Carr, R.S.A. Secretary, was presided over by Mr. Duncan Mackay in the abeence of the president, Mr. F. H. Muirhead. Mr. E. C. Hardie, treasurer, was alao present. Stating the reasons for the proposed formation of a women's section at New Plymouth, Mr. Mackay said women's war organisations throughout New Zealand had been so successful that the R.S.A. had decided to inaugurate women's sectiorts wherever possible.' "We are forturtate at New Plymouth in that, long before the women's section was mooted, we have had the aetive support of a large body of women throughout our district," continued Mr. Mackay, "and this enthusiastic support has been given to us over a long period." Mr. Mackay mentioned the existence of the next-ot-kin club, the machine-gun club ahd several other organisations that were working for members Of the armed force$. Other Bodies Not Affeeted. He desired to make it clear, added Mr. Mackay, that the existence of the various organisations at present operating would not be affeeted by the formation of a women's section of the R.S.A. "We want such organisations to continue their good work," he said, "but it is epthusiasts such as the members of those organisations that we warit in our ranks." "I can assure you that the women's section will receive all possible help ifrom the New Plymouth R.S.A.," concluded Mr. Mackay, "and I feel that before long the R.S.A. would be in the debt of its women's section." A telegram from the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., Dominion president of the New Zealand R.S.A., conveying good wishes to the meeting, was read by Mr. Mackay. He was delighted to hear that a women's section was being formed at New Plymouth, stated Mr. Perry. Officers elected were: Patron, Mrs. Ann Burgess, M.B.E.; president. Mrs. L. R. Curtis; vice-presidents, Mesdames L Prichard (Waitara), W. Sm:th (Inglewood), T. J. O'Riordan (Urenui), W. J. •Wright (Rahotu), A. L. Logan and F. S. Varnham (New Plymouth); auditor. Mrs. E. Griffiths; treasurer. Mrs. J. S. Paton; secretary, Mrs. F. L. Hartnell; committee, Mesdames G. H. Thomson, L. Smith. V. Thome, E. R. Harford, J. Dumbell, S. F. Hartnell, W. E. Alexander, W. Hayward, H. S. Weston, W. Deane, F. L. Frost, T. Batten. L. Hedges, H. W. Broad, F. E. Wilson, E. Le Pihe. A. Lile, Misses McAllum, N. Knight and E. Lawrence.