FEATHERSTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 March 1941, Page 7

FEATHERSTON

WAR SERVICE GUILD BRANCH FORMED YESTERDAY. ("Times-Age” Special.) A meeting of between 70 and 80 women representing all the organisations of the surrounding districts and summoned by the Mayoress, Miss Card, was held yesterday in the Anzac Hall for the purpose of forming a Featherston branch of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary Guild. Mr. J. W. Card, mayor, presided, and in introducing Mrs. Jowett who is a member of the Dominion Executive, explained briefly why the meeting had been called, and said that it was not to be a new war effort so much as a co-ordination of all efforts and organisations which were already engaged in war work. He read apologies for from Mrs. Bidwill, Mrs. d' C. Collins, Mrs. A. Clark, Mrs. Tutbury, Mrs. Sadler and Miss Bloxam. Mrs. Jowett said that she wanted to relieve the minds of everyone of the idea that this was to be “a money-making stunt.” She outlined the reasons for the establishment of the movement in Wellington last year. She said that a conference of the presidents of all the organisations from all over the . Dominion had been held, and a council of 12 women elected, and four were ' appointed by the Minister in charge. From this council a Dominion executive of members living in Wellington was formed, with Mrs. Peter Fraser as Dominion President, and Dr. Agnes Bennett as vice-president, Mrs. Knox Gilmer. Mrs. Bentley, Miss Amy Kane and Mrs. Jowett were also members. It was necessary for the purpose of the guild, to have a register of voluntary registrations from all women of the Dominion who were willing to serve New Zealand in time of national emergency. The ways in which women could help would be in: Transport, Bicycle and Signalling Corps; Emergency Hospital work; Farm Work; Air Force, Home Gardening. It would be necessary for all the women enrolled,,, whatever their age or status to do a certain amount of training in physical fitness. The applause showed the appreciation of Mrs Jowett's able explanation of the aims of the Women's War Service Auxiliary Guild. Mrs D. H. S. Riddiford moved and Mrs A. C. Pearce seconded a very hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for her most interesting address. The motion was carried. Miss Card moved that a centre of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary Guild be formed in Featherston, the motion being carried. There were only three nominations for the committee to be formed so Mr Card declared Mrs Riddiford. Mrs Sharp and Miss Card elected, with Miss Card as convenor of the committee. Mrs Jowett thanked the Mayor and Miss Card for having made the arrangements for the meeting. Afternoon tea was handed round and was much appreciated by all those present, and especially by those who had travelled some distance to be present.

LADIES’ GUILD

.. BUSINESS AT ANNUAL MEETING. The St. John’s Ladies’ Guild held its annual meeting in tne Parish Hall on Thursday. Mrs. Bloxam presiding over a good attendance. Mrs; J. R. Higgs gave an interesting talk on her recent experiences as an evacuee from Hongkong. Mrs. Bloxam expressed thanks to the speaker for her address. The election of officers resulted: President, Mrs. Bloxam (re-elected); sec-retary-treasurer, Mrs. W. Feast; social committee, Mesdames Sharp, Bergh, J. W. Holland and A. G. Peene. Mrs. Bloxam thanked the retiring secretary, Mrs. J. E. Willett, for her work; during her term of office. The tea hostesses were Mesdames Bloxam, Willett and Feast. Personal. Mervyn Gain, who was in Kelvin Hospital suffering from a ’woken leg through a fall from his bicycle recently, has now returned to his home.