FIGHTER FOR BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 6

FIGHTER FOR BRITAIN

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S GIFT APPEAL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS That the women of New Zealand should present a fighter aeroplane to the British Government to assist in the defence of the Homeland is a suggestion made by Mrs A. Ward Chapman, president of the Waikato Federation of Women’s Institutes. Conscious of the fact that British men are fighting for the women and children of the Empire, Mrs Chapman says she is confident that the women of New Zealand will be willing and proud to present a fighting plane in their name. The suggestion is that the women of New Zealand who can afford it should each contribute say half-a-crown to the fund. From £SOOO to £6OOO would be required for the purchase of a fighter, and Mrs Chapman is confident that such a sum will readily be forthcoming. The original proposal of the women’s organisations was to employ funds saved by curtailing the activities of the organisations, but sufficient funds are not available, and they were also informed that sterling could, not be allocated for the purchase of aeroplanes. Now, however, Mr Nash has announced that sterling exchange to the extent of £IOO,OOO has been set aside for the purchase of aeroplanes from voluntary subscriptions, and Mrs Chapman believes the women of New Zealand should be given the opportunity to make a contribution to the war effort which thousands of them have for long earnestly desired to make. Therefore the appeal for subscriptions is being made. Contributions will be accepted at the office of the Waikato Times.