EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 7

EKETAHUNA

SOLDIERS’ COMFORTS PUBLIC MEETING LAST NIGHT. (“Times-Age" Special.) [ There was a large and representa- , tive atetndance at the public meeting , held in the Municipal Chambers last ’■ night to discuss what action the Eke- ' tahuna Borough and County would . take jn helping with the National Patriotic Fund Board's appeal for £lOO,000 for providing comforts for the soldiers on active service. The Mayor, . Mr W. Simpson, presided. ’ The Mayor said that it was very ent couraging to see so many present. The , meeting was the outcome of a letter he had received from the National Appeal Board, of which His Excellency, Lord Galway, was chairman. There was an . urgent need for comforts for the solaiers. both- overseas and at home; as ■ more soldiers left the greater would be the need for funds. The Board was . asking for a start, £lOO,OOO. This was ; not a very large sum to collect in a week when it was considered that a similar sum had been collected in one day during the last war. He was sure that it was the universal opinion of the town and district that something should be done, and he considered that the sum of £lOOO should be the aim of Eketahuna and district. The appeal was being sponsored by the Salvation Army and Y.M.C.A., who would supervise the spending of the money. Captain Laskey, of the Salvation Army, the Mayor went on, would be in the district at the time the appeal was ■ launched. It would be impossible for her to cover the whole district during the period of the campaign—from March 9 to 16, and, therefore, she would need considerable help from the committee the meeting would appoint. The Mayor then invited Captain Laskey to address the meeting. Captain Laskey said that she was delighted with the splendid attendance at the meeting and thanked those present for their interest. She explained that the Salvation Army and Y.M.C.A. were sponsoring the first appeal, and the St. John Ambulance and Red Cross Society would take charge of the second appeal to be held in April. The sum of £lOO,OOO could easily be spent in providing ambulances, recreation huts, etc. The two organisations would only be instrumental in handling the fund, the collection of which would entail much work. Captain Laskey then put forward suggestions as to how the money could be collected. Mr J. B. Carruthers, chairman of the County Council, said that all recognised the need of such a fund. The canvassing of the borough would be an easy task compared with that of the county which was spread over an area of 300 square miles. He stated that there were nine distinct Emergency Committees set up in the county, and said that if the central committee which would be set up that night got in touch with the county committees the canvassing of the county would be greatly simplified. Mr A. H. Herbert said that those who would not be going to the war should help with every means in their power. It was impossible to collect money by rules and regulations; it must be given voluntarily. He agreed with Mr Carruthers’s suggestion in regard to the canvassing of the county. The meeting then discussed ways and means of canvassing and the following committee was appointed to finalise the arrangements: Chairman, Mr W. Simpson; joint secretaries, Messrs B. Dinnan and W. N. Richardson; treasurer. Mr L. C. Christie; committee, Messrs J. B. Carruthers, O. Walton. A. H. Herbert, S. J. O’Regan, A. D. Murray. M. Shale, Mrs W. Curry. The chairman explained that no one was allowed io collect money without obtaining a licence either from the county chairman or himself. The Mayor said that he was sure Eketahuna and district would rally to the good cause. He thanked Captain Laskey for her attendance and help. FIRE BRIGADE i SHIELD COMPETITION. Members of the Eketahuna Fire Brigade competed last night for the Brigade Shield. The competition was a three-men wet event and resulted as follow: — Deputy-Superintendent H. Daniel. Secretary S. Daniel and Messenger N. Parsons, time 31 3-ssecs., 1: Firemen J. Dickson, H. Gyde and R. Fafeita, 31 4-ssecs., 2; Superintendent H. Rogers, Firemen R. Fafeita and H. Leslie, 32secs., 3. The secretary of the Fire Brigade wishes to acknowledge from Mr G. Willingham a donation of 2s 6d. PUBLIC LIBRARY NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE. The following new books arc now available at the Municipal Library: — “Murder in the Bud” (P. Bottome): “Family Symphony" (I. C. Clarke): “In an Alpine Valley” (I. C. Clarke): “Farewell Night. Welcome Day” <S. Jameson); "Love in the Sun" (L. Walmsley). Personal Items. Mrs W. J. Henderson is visiting Palmerston .North. Mr and Mrs R. Ede, Nelson, are visiting friends and relatives in Eketahuna. Nurse Davis left yesterday on a visit to Plimmerton. Mr and Mrs F. 11. Wise, Wellington, were visitors to Eketahuna for the weekend. Labourers’ Union. A genera] meeting of the Labourers’ Union will be held in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Eketahuna. on Friday evening. i BOARD. TJOARD and Residence.—Every con venience. Casuals by arrangement Two minutes from G.P.O. Telephone 1471.—“Ferndale,” 15 Victoria Street Masterton.