NAVY LEAGUE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1941, Page 8

NAVY LEAGUE

MASTERTON LADIES’ AUXILIARY ANNUAL REPORT. ACTIVITIES OF PAST YEAR. The annual report of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Navy League (Masterton branch) states: — H “Our membership numbers are as i follows:—Life members, 19; members paying £2 2s, 1; members paying 10s 6d, 12; members paying ss, 223; mem- : bers paying 2s 6d, 25; total, 280. Our : school membership numbers 457 for 1940, including the following schools: — Solway College, 126; St. Matthew’s School, 75; Te Ore Ore, 66; Fernridge, 44; Hadlow Preparatory School, 33; Newman, 26; Kopuaranga, 22; Te Whiti, 14; Masterton West, 12; Wairarapa College, 12; Mauriceville West, 11; Putara, 8; Lansdowne, 5; Matahiwi, 1; miscellaneous, 2. The school membership has been very encouraging, showing an increase of 26 members. Solway College. St. Matthew’s School, Hadlow, Newman and Kopuaranga all maintained their high membership of previous years, and Te Ore Ore, Fernridge and Putara enrolled 100 per cent of their pupils for the first time and gained their flags. The presentations to Te Ore Ore and Fernridge took place on November 22, when they were visited by Sir Charles Norwood, Mr Gordon Reid and Mr R. Darroch, members of the executive of the Wellington branch, and by members of our committee. The returns from Putara arrived too late to arrange their presentation before the Christmas vacation,'but we hope to visit their school early this year. We thank the teachers of all schools for their interest and continued help in enrolling members, and all school members for their loyal support. We also thank the girls of Solway College, Wairarapa College, St. Matthew’s School, Masterton Central, Masterton West, Lansdowne, Te Whiti, Newman and Te Ore Ore schools for help in knitting warm garments for seamen. v

“Early in the year a conference was held in Wellington to discuss the advantages of closer co-ordination of the branches of the Navy League in New Zealand, and as a result a Navy League War Council was formed for the purpose of producing greater efficiency in the Navy League war effort, and with a desire to avoid duplication as regards providing comforts for seamen during the war. At the request of the War Council, we have concentrated on providing warm clothing for men of all sea services, particularly those on minesweepers . overseas. A wool and packing committee of six members, with Miss Cameron as convenor, was elected, and a depot was opened in the Midland Hotel and successfully run, where wool has been distributed every Friday afternoon to members and friends who are willing to knit for ; seamen. Unfortunately, the supply of wool available from Wellington has I been very limited, and it was often ; difficult to find sufficient wool for all our willing helpers. We are grateful to all those people who have given donations to our funds to enable us to buy wool locally when supplies from Wellington did. not come to hand. We are also grateful to those who have become life members during the year. According to the regulations of- the Wellington branch, to which we are attached, we are permitted to retain the whole of the subscriptions of life members, to use as we think best, and this money, so generously subscribed, has been spent on wool for garments for seamen. As a result of this financial help and the untiring work of our knitters, 2164 garments were received and packed by the wool committee and forwarded to Wellington for shipment. The demand for clothing is still urgent, and we know that you will continue to help us to meet all requests. “In July it .was decided to send overseas, consignments of tinned foods each month, and a sub-committee, with Mrs P. J. Borthwick and Mrs E. C. White as convenors, was elected to undertake this work; and by the end of the year 1040 tins of food had been sent to men of the mine-sweepers. This wonderful total was made possible by regular monthly contributions from members and their friends, who were anxious to do something to show their> gratitude to the men who are protecting our Empire. In September we were very pleased to receive word that Mrs O. A. Bunny had been awarded a long service decoration by the Navy League Council in London. Mrs Bunny has been a member of the committee of the Masterton branch of the Navy League almost continuously since its inception, and all members who have been associated with her were delighted to hear that her work had received official recognition. In August and December, large parcels of reading matter were sent to the Mission to Seamen in Wellington, and grateful letters of thanks were received from the Missioner. The president was appointed our representative to the Mayoress Patriotic Committee, and has assisted generally with the work of that committee; and. with other members of the Navy League, helped with a house-to-house collection for Christmas parcels for New Zealand Forces.

“Our president does not wish to accept nomination for 1941, but desires to continue to assist the League in any other capacity. Again we thank Mr A. D. Low for auditing the books; Mr J. V. Gordon for receiving subscriptions; also Mr E.-.T. Jenkins for carrying parcels free of charge: Mrs J. Reid for the gift of a cake, which was raffled to augment our funds; the management of the Midland Hotel for the use of (heir lounge as a wool depot: Mr R.

H. Williams and his office staff for much help; and the Press for their unfailing courtesy and assistance. We hope that all members will show their interest in the Navy League by attending the annual meeting, to be held in the A. and P. Association Room on Tuesday, April 8. 1941, at 2.30 p.m. Subscriptions are now due, and may be sent to Miss A. Sellar. 72 Renall Street, or, if more convenient, may be left with Mr J. V. Gordon. Chemist, Queen Street, Masterton.” The report is signed by Mrs A. Caselberg, president.