NAVY LEAGUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 March 1940, Page 8

NAVY LEAGUE

MASTERTON LADIES' AUXILIARY. INCREASED ACTIVITIES DURING WAR PERIOD. The twenty-second annual report of the Masterton branch of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Navy League records a membership of 228 and a school membership of 431. The report proceeds: —“We thank the teachers of all schools for the spirit of loyalty they have shown in enrolling members. The school membership has been most encouraging. showing an increase of over 100 members. Three schools gained their flags: Solway College. Kopuaranga ana Newman, and we congratulate the teachers and pupils of these schools. . . . We also congratulate Hadlow Preparatory School for maintaining their 100 per cent membership for the eleventh year in succession, and St. Matthew’s Collegiate School for maintaining 100 per cent membership of the upper school for the fourth year in succession. ... In December a

letter wa.s received from Mr J. Sutherland Ross, president of the conference of the branches of the Navy Lea-, gue in New Zealand, suggesting that all branches should make a money grant, by way of a thanks offering, in honour of the gallant action of Commodore Harwood's Squadron in the South Atlantic, and a donation of £2 was sent from this branch. . . . Our

peace-time activities have been mainly confined to educational propaganda in the schools, but since our Empire is unfortunately at war. there will be much more active work to be done by the members as well as by the committee. The Admiralty has asked for gifts of knitted garments for the men of the Royal Navy and all other branches of sea service and we know that we will have your willing co-operation in meeting these requests. We were very pleased when word was received that the Council of the Navy League Head Office in London, had awarded long service decorations to Miss B. Vallance and Miss A. Sellar, for services to the league. Miss Vallance has been a member of the committee since the inception of the Masterton Branch, holding office as vice-president and president. Miss Sellar has been secretary for the past eighteen years. The presentations were made on September 20, by Mr Gordon Reid, chairman of the Wellington Branch, at a tea held at ihe home of Mrs S. R. Gawith. kindly lent for- the occasion, to which the committee and life members were invited.”