SERVICE CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1943, Page 2

SERVICE CLUB

AMERICAN ORGANISATION IN MASTERTON LARGE NUMBERS USING FACILITIES. HOME GUARD MEMBERS TO BE 1 EXCLUDED. Last week 4658 American and 1015 New Zealand service men had meals at the American Red Cross Service Club in Masterton, stated Mrs. Betty Learmont, Club Directress, this morning. Since the club commenced activities an average of from 4000 to 6000 men each week had been served with meals at the cafeteria. On some occasions there were more New Zealand service men at the cafeteria than Americans, said Mrs. Learmont. As an indication of how the club depended on the voluntary workers from the community, Mrs. Learmont said that each week approximately 500 to 800 volunteers gave their services. All the volunteers were doing a wonderful job. Dance sessions were being held at the club on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, for which the Marine Band provided the music, said Mrs. Learmont. A successful dance was held last night when there were a large number of girls present from Carterton under the charge of Mrs. Fairbrother, of the Red Cross Society. On Saturday night the dance would be of a formal nature and the ladies would be required to wear evening dress. Referring to the fact that the club was not open to members of the HOme Guard or the W.W.S.A., Mrs. Learmont said that she was sorry that owing to the rationing of commodities and because of the civilian status of the members of the Home Guard during the day it' was necesasry to re state the policy of the American Red Cross Club. The clubs were, she said, specially for service men who were away from home. At the same time the American Red Cross was greatly appreciative of all that the people of Masterton and district were doing for visiting service men and the club. The Masterton Home Guard Headquarters notify that the Club has been placed out of bounds for members of the Home Guard.