LETTERS FROM BRITAIN

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 4, 1 May 1947, Page 4

LETTERS FROM BRITAIN

11 Belvedere, W’cyniouth, 4tu November, 1946 Dear kind friends in Feilding am; Master ton, New Zealand, — We have just held our Brandi monthly meeting, and 1 am writing at once to send the thanks of our members to you.

Please excuse a joint typed letter, hut we passed a resolution that hato lx* sent to the Mayor and Corpora tion, and the clergy and ministry of the town, so as 1 am the Branch Secretary, you can imagine all the work 1 have to do—as well as send the notice to the local papers. We have 20,000 sailors in our midst, the Fleet having come to our harbour, and no accommodation for social facilities except one small Salvation Army Home, AND the places where they can get intoxicating drinks. 1 his is something 1 am absolutely ashamed of and I shall.try to rouse the town to action. During the war we a fine “8.W.T.A.” Canteen and Club, of which for live years 1 was Commandant, and over one and a-halt million meals were provided, sometimes over 2,500 in one day. But the Churches wanted their halls hack after the war, and much as we have tried we canont find other property. We want to run a peace-time club. Our monthly meetings are held in the Liberal Club premises. If only the Churches would realise their opportunities and the work crying out to be done! I get really worked up. It is so difficult to get anything done, alas! But to return to your parcels. The members were delighted. I had

opened your first bedding parcel whe: it arrived, but the second one fortunately arrived an hour before our meeting, so I took it down intact \> show them what trouble you had l* t;i to, sewing the material etc. It hap petied to be the birthday of one of ou; eldest members. She is nearly eight} very active, and has been a member for very many years and yesterday, or her birthday, she gave us a wonderful tea. She has relations on farms, and evidently they let her have eggs, etc, for she herself had made all the cake, as well as preparing the sandwich*? and provided the bread units. She is a Methodist, and strange to say, our new young Methodist minister was thi speaker at the meeting, so we were aide to share the good things with him. hirst of all, the birthday liostev chose her piece of soap, and she al* had a tin of pears and the tin of cheese. \\ e gave the minister for hi. wife, who has a small hoy and could not be present, the large tin of malted milk, and every member present had a piece of soap. The large bars we cut up into several pieces. It made the meeting a specially happy one, and we had a lovely time. T he Rev. Mr. Freeman seemed very much impressed, for it was so nice being able to read your letters of such kind greetings to us all. I presided as our President was away. A very big Thank You! We shall have a supper this winter and invite our menfolk and will use the. dripping and dried milk then. The thought was appreciated, but we don’t like your going to all the trouble of sending things. We keep very cheerful over here and this wretched rationing will soon be over. Very best wishes for your election* W e shall be thinking of you then. I will forward the local paper to you if the report of the meeting i> published. They, alas, never put in much about our Temperance meetings, the liquor interest are so great. A very happy Christmas to you all With our united love and best wishes, DOROTHY KING, Branch Secretary.