WOMEN’S AUXILIARY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1943, Page 2

WOMEN’S AUXILIARY

FIRST MASTERTON RALLY LAST NIGHT ARMY & HOME GUARD OFFICERS ATTEND. APPEAL FOR FULL LOYALTY TO INSTRUCTORS. Over 100 members of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary attended the first rally held in Masterton, at the Y.M.C.A. rooms last evening. .The parade was in charge of Mrs. Whittaker and among those present were Lieutenant Garth Jackson, assistant area officer, and Captain T. Brown, Lieut. H. Nuttall and Second Lieut. Marshall, of the Masterton Home Guard. Mrs. J. Robertson, president of the committee, was also present. Those on parade showed much enthusiasm and the opinion was' expressed that the auxiliary in Masterton would give a good account of itself in the near future.

Lieutenant Jackson said the Women’s War Service Auxiliary had approached him with a view to obtaining the assistance of military personnel to give drill training. He said he would be very pleased to give the help desired, and would do everything possible to assist them, provided that they put their shoulders to the wheel, took an interest in their activities, gave their full loyalty and support to their instructors and attended parades, with a view to making themselves a' really , efficient unit. He explained thak he and his officers were far too to spend their time in training them If they were not going to stick to their job, attend parades and make a success of the organisation. Stating that the auxiliary had been formed into five sections—canteen, transport, signalling, land army and drill—he said that all could play a very useful part in the war effort.’ The ladies of New Zealand were doing tasks today that at one time it was considered could never be. satisfactorily performed by them. In many instances they were doing men's work efficiently and well and were a force to be reckoned with. He assured the auxiliary of the army’s full support so long as the auxiliary members were prepared to stick to their job. Captain Brown said he would be very pleased to give all the assistance he could in training the auxiliary members in signalling. Lieut. Nuttall showed the members how to fall in on parade and how to dismiss. He formed them into their various sections. It was decided to hold parades every Tuesday night in the Masterton Drill Hall from 7 to 9 o’clock and on fine nights to hold the parade in the open air. It was agreed that the training should be made as interesting and as varied as possible.