AIR FORCE RELATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 November 1942, Page 2

AIR FORCE RELATIONS

WORK OF COMMITTEES. AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. " An interesting summary of the work of the Air Force Relations committees throughout the Dominion was given by the Dominion president, Mrs R. V. Goddard. wife of the officer commanding the Royal New Zealand Air Force at a morning tea reception held at the Ranfurly Club rooms, Masterton, yesterday. At the gathering, which was presided ’ over by Mrs H. J. W. Lord, local president, some 60 Air Force Relations helpers were entertained. Mrs Goddard, who was accompanied by her secretary, Miss Constance Morice, called in at Masterton on her way to Hawke’s Bay in furtherance of a Dominion wide tour. Mrs Goddard said that Air Force Relations committees throughout New Zealand had knitted 22,242 pullovers, 17,064 scarves, 18,687 pair of mittens, 8,983 hussifs, 6,158 pair of socks, 2,980 pair of gloves, and 15,469 balaclavas. Included in those figures were the goods in the monthly bales sent to England and Canada. A total of 24,036 lbs. of wool had been knitted into over 85,000 garments which had been distributed to air stations and issued to the men. The speaker said that New Zealand airmen had expressed, themselves as being disappointed with the hospitality of the people in England after that afforded them in Canada, but she said it had to be remembered that the rationing schedule in England was very strict and there was little food over for entertaining. In addition, 1 house in every 5 was damaged from air raids and the place was swarming with troops of different nations.