FAITH IN LEADERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 March 1941, Page 7

FAITH IN LEADERS

BRITAIN'S WAR EFFORT CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND. ADDRESS EY MRS D. SIMPSON. A meeting of the Women's Section of the Masterton Branch of the National Party at the Y.M.C.A. yesterday was addressed by Mrs Duncan Simpson, of Marton. Mrs R. Miller was in the chair and in introducing Mrs Simpson referred to the fact, that she was already well known as a worker in women’s organisations in New Zealand, and that she had recently returned to this country after nearly two years in England. Mrs Simpson gave an interesting account of the measures taken by householders in England for the safety of their households. Many of these might be adapted to conditions in New Zealand. Where cellars and air raid shelters were not available trees gave the next best cover. To lie under these flat on the chest but with head raised, cotton wool in the ears and chewing gum between the teeth was the method in those circumstances. To carry out the regulations was the work first of the police, then of extra police A.R.P. workers, fire fighters and various women’s organisations attached to the Army, Navy and Air Force, and nursing profession. In cases of evacuation of women and children from the cities, those children who were not accompanied by their mothers settled down happily enough, said Mrs Simpson. When they read of women and children killed in the cities they should not have been there, but had been taken back against the advice of the authorities. Many New Zealand girls living in England had gone in for farm work. Cycle corps with a knowledge of first aid, signalling. and of the layout of their district did valuable work in conveying messages. Central telephone depots -were managed by elderly gentlemen who, working four hour shifts, received and gave out messages. For the terror of gas there were special centres for treatment. A.R.P. workers and fire fighters wore rubber boots. Soldiers were provided with special gas masks and healing ointments. Throughout all the horrors of fires and bombing, of ruin and devastation of houses, of the death and mutilation of women and young children, the English never became flustered and kept cheerful even when news came of the defection of France and of the evacuation of Dunkirk, said Mrs Simpson. The sound of the warning siren, instead of intimidating -them, roused them to a cold fury of determination. They had faith in their leaders and an all-party government, and gave of their utmost both in work and money. Arriving in New Zealand. Mrs Simpson said she could not fail to be struck by the feeling of mistrust which was everywhere in evidence. There was a want of real leadership, and party legislation was still the business of a party government. The 40-hour week, and frequent strikes was in contrast to the long hours willingly worked as a war effort in England. There was no need for compulsory loans in England. People gave willingly because they trusted their leaders and knew that the money would be used to win England’s war which was their war. Again no one, not even the soldiers, knew when they were to leave for the front. They often went off on route marches, and sometimes they did not return from them. That was all? All places of military importance were so camouflaged that it was impossible to distinguish them as such. It seemed strange to see, in New Zealand, so conspicuous a target as the white aerodrome at Feilding. The New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr Jordan, was of a kindly nature, and looked well after their fighting forces at Home. The special hospital for New Zealanders was endowed largely through the efforts ofLord Bledisloe who was instrumental in raising large sums. The New Zealand concert in London broke a record in raising £7OOO in a single afternoon.. At the conclusion of her talk Mrs Simpson answered a number of questions. She was given a hearty vote of thanks for her informative address.