WAR SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1942, Page 2

WAR SERVICE

NO WOMEN’S AUXILIARY IN MASTERTON

STATEMENT BY MR KEBBELL.

SITU ATI ON DESC RI BE D AS DEPLORABLE.

“Alasterlon residents appear to be not aware of Ihe fact that, there is no branch of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary in Masterton,” said M r It. W. Kebbell, chairman of the Wairarapa Primary Product ion Council today. “Considering we are in the fourth year of war, this omission to organise the 'women under the official Government scheme can only be described as deplorable.

“This council is tremendously handicapped in carrying out its work so far as the women power is concerned,” said Mr Kebbell. “Had the women power of Masterton. been fully organised and a card index completed of the names and the work they were willing to undertake and a secretary put in charge, we would not be up against a brick wall when wo want to call on help from the women for the work which can and should 1 be done by them in this emergency. We have been drawing men from the Army to help to increase vegetables production and to keep the fruit industry in full production. Now that the time is approaching for the picking of both the vegetables and the fruit, we find the appropriate organisation is not in being. It would be criminal for this council with the war situation as it is today, io ask the Army to release further men for work of this nature. Unfortunately, there is not sufficient male labour available for this purpose and we have three alternatives:—(a) The drawing of men from the Army, which must be condemned; (b) allowing the vegetables and fruit to rot on the ground; (c) the organisation of the necessary women power to do the work.' I think all will agree the latter is the only course that can be taken. and those who are responsible for this state of affairs need a serious reprimand. “The council.” said Mr Kebbell, “intends to take the strongest action possible and has written to the president of the Wairarapa Federation of Women’s Institutes asking its members to do everything in their power to support the council. The council has had numerous enquiries ond complaints from women, who, wanting to do something for the country’s war effort, have had no organisation to turn to.