WOMEN'S AUXILIARY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13325, 30 April 1941, Page 4

WOMEN'S AUXILIARY

MONTHLY_MEETING PRESENTATION OF GROUP REPORTS FORTNIGHTLY MEETINGS SUGGESTED Another long agenda paper came before members of the Women's War Service Auxiliary when they met in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday afternoon, and the meeting lasted from two o'clock till after five. v For this reason it was suggested that in future an endeavour be made to arrange fortnightly meetings, and in all probability the suggestion will ,be acted upon. May 14 was fixed as a tentative date for next meeting. ' There was a full attendance of the Committee on Monday, those present including Mrs J. S. Stenhouse (in the chair), Mrs Whetstone (Katikati), Mrs Cashmore (Te Puke), Mrs J. Bruce Beale, Mrs McKenna, Mrs F. W. Doidge, Mrs C. J. West (Mount Maunganui), Mrs R. Faulkner, Mrs F. N. Christian, Mrs E. D. Richards, Mrs W. Hardwick, Mrs Pitt Butts '(secretary), and Mrs R. Hardley '(assistant secretary).

The minutes of the last meeting 'were read and confirmed, inward .correspondence received, and outward approved. Inward correspondence related •principally to routine matters, communications and circulars from headquarters, etc. A good supply of registration cards had also come to hand.

I In the matter of a suggestion put 'forward at last meeting that the .Canteen Group supply tea for Home .Guard members on practice nights, a letter was received from Captain i'Mitchell stating that this was unj'necessary as members were training near their homes. However, assist- ! ance from the Auxiliary would be 1 welcomed on any occasion upon !(which it was required by the Home I Guard.

Chairman's Report

Mrs Stenhouse gave a short verbal 'report on the laying of a wreath at the Memorial Gates on Anzac Day by herself and Mrs E. D. Richards, and of visits to Te Puna and Katikati. The Te Puna report showed that on the 9th inst. Mrs Stenhouse, to<gether with the secretary, attended a meeting at Te Puna. The aims and objects of the Auxiliary were also a brief outline given of the activities in Tauranga. Fifteen women registered and it was decided to form a Group. The following committee was elected: Miss Brown (chairwoman), Mrs Anderson, Mrs ' PAnson/Mrs Heard and Miss Smith. The election of a secretary was left 'to the committee, Mrs Stenhouse stating that a secretary need not 'necessarily be a member of the committee but that it was better if she was, as then she would be able to vote. Katikati The Katikati report gave an account of a visit paid on the occasion of a meeting convened by Mrs Whetstone. There was a good attendance and most of those present signed registration cards. Mrs Stenhouse gave an interesting talk tracing the growth of the Auxiliary from its inception. This was much appreciated as many points were clarified.

The meeting unanimously decided in favour of forming a sub-centre at Katikati and the following committee was elected: —Mrs W. Johnson, Katikati; Miss J. Johnson, Katikati; Mrs C. M. Corbett, Aongatete; Mrs> H. Johnson, Tuapiro; Mrs H. J. Cooper, Katikati; Mrs T. Thompson, Katikati. Mrs. Whetstone to be chairman.

Donations totalling 16s 6d were handed in.

Mrs Whetstone asked permission to co-opt Miss Betty Miller to the Katikati committee and this was agreed to. Secretary's Report The secretary, Mrs Pitt Butts, briefly gave figures of recent registrations. These were: Tauranga 28-S, Katikati 32, Te Puke 87. Information was also given that owing to the size of the Auxiliary membership, it was legitimate to have two delegates to the Women's Representative Committee instead of one as hitherto.

Small- matters concerning a notice board for the Scout hall, and instruction in marching were touched upon. Mrs Whetstone offered to arrange for a blackboard, and the matter of marching practice was left in abeyance meantime.

Mrs Hardley suggested that in matters of transport help be obtained from members of the Transport Group. There would no doubt be some with cars who would be pleased to help with the task of -taking lecturers to outlying districts. The matter of benzine had been arranged with the authorities by the secretary.

Regarding any extension of groups the secretary moved and Mrs Beale seconded, that any extension of group activities be decided upon by the committee. Mrs Hardwick moved as an amendment that major extensions to group , activities come before the committee, but minor extensions be decided by the convener and leader, with reference if necessary to the chairman i and secretary. The amendment was seconded .by •Mrs West and carried, and becoming the substantive motion was also carried. GROUP REPORTS Group reports were presented as follows: Hospital Aid "Owing to the intervention of

Easter, it was late in * tne Matron of the was ready to begin tl e >% bers weekly, but the pert 0 I a,B,B « J mg will depend ? Ut % ability to gain a aatflic Know edge of kitchen S The leader, Mrs Povnte other nave completed i-'J H * two more are to enter ** to-day. Monday, 28th Ap ° h > machines are being inX a />* laundry members referred to ffii tlle N mg tor a short period to!?- re ' !!1 -'- tion in operation of same bei ~ n* lr»c . house .convener." A « Ste*.

Canteen Group Mrs C!. M. Dickinson \ the Canteen Group, repor e Ttw r ° ! Canteen Group started to l n lth * 'der the Auxiliary on pi ° rk <">• "Every Tuesday night ftf* 1? (different ones each eek Rivoli and provide tea, 'or scones to 130 men b«3S khi the National Defence On to 30th March we had the task *S*> vidmg refreshments for tl, o > Guard. We were asked to L ? 1000. but I estimate that a ' r -°; to SOO came to the Hall - l ?J ° The report concluded with a sb>t, ment regarding the purchase I"' crockery, and thanks to the h Pe '

Signalling Group

I have pleasure i n reporting t hv two classes are now being trained ; signalling, an advanced class S£ Mr Kirkby, and another which h I just begun under the tuition oft Lumley. Unfortunately the numb, 'attending the latter class last To ' day evening was not as great as antt cipated. However, we hope now i has actually started, to increase Hi number.—D. Hardwick, convener" Katikati

Mrs Whetstone gave a short resume of the first committee meeting at Katikati with 'herself as chairman 5 Mrs W. Johnston was appointed secretary and also leader of the Canteen and Camp Cooking Groups. Mrs Johnston, senr., and Mrs Frazerhurst both had promised to give suitable lectures. Physical Fitness classes were being arranged and Transport and Signalling were to be arranged some time in the future. On behalf of the Katikati sub-centre a wreath was laia on Anzac Day. Mrs Whetstone asked whether it was in order for the Auxiliary members to cater for a special week-end training camp in their district. The committee's permission was given.

Spinning Mrs Beale presented the Spinning Circle report as under: — "This Circle is making steady progress but has been held up for want of wool, especially a black fleece to • ply with white wool in order to make 'a more suitable colour for the purposes required. I am happy to report that through the good offices of Mr Fetch, manager for Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Opotiki, we now have 5 bags of splendid black wool which should be ample to keep the Circle /supplied during the winter months. [Mr Briggs has completed one spinning wheel and has two others on the way. This is also a most generous contribution and has been the means of setting the wheels in motion in a short space of time, and at no expense to the Circle. Also Mrs En* 'of Ohauiti has donated a black flw<> and is also a potential spinner. Sin" T have had the spinning wheel in the Lady Galway Depot people from all around the district have called especially to inspect it. Arrangements '-are being made to have a spinning •demonstration at Te Puke on Tuesday, 29th inst."

At the request of the chairm* Mrs Beale agreed to get in to. n with Mrs Murray Tollemache of utumoetai, who was the leader of a, group anxious td start spinning.

Home Nursing

Mrs Faulkner reported:— "Home Nursing.—Classes are «n bpin* held in the Ambulance Hal every Monday night at 7.30 hy Shtei Gallagher and Nurse Barnett. First Aid.—Classes are being MM in the Ambulance. Hall every \ nesday at 7.30 p.m. Orotrf,ej«J Tuesdav. 1.30 n.m. Pve's Pa.ev other Wednesday at 1.30 n.ra. Puna everv Wednesdav at .I PJThese classes are for the nort Corn to earn their *n» Certificates for the V.A.D.'s and for the general nuniie. . "A Nursing Division has _ formed in Te Puke and th > kswa women will be hav Ing & aid examination in about night."

Physical Fitness Mrs Pitt Butts, convener for group stated: — , "The classes for both JWg| » seniors are being well structors and teachers being _h , keen. Miss Stephenson, « „,, Welfare Officer, has not ye refresher course, hut when f^ it has been arranged that m fv n ™ s „ h-ceutres and country 6 shall attend. Mrs Porter rf as accompaniste for both «» eb( , present and I understand *■£ enable to do so for the juni^ Miss Ray will take her place-

Clerical Group A report, on the Clgca^ was also presented bi £» ep? r<> "The leader of this is w a register of those, offering various branches of ww „ tc ., such as book-keepers tJPJ. „ t 0 but so far there has been w & utilise their services, wm {st in as they are all anxious to their branches."

Transport r for Mrs F. N. Christian, con the Transport Group, rei ffJn « "T be" to present tne GroU p-» brief report of the Transport * activities. About sixty taking the instruction con *« Gresham and Dinsdale g „tb lectures. I have the sc - the group and have i he Se crr dule as handed to me by

:■; of the Auxiliary, to them. A aler of girls expressed their willass to take the necessary inmtlon for a Cycle Corps on the ae evening as they attend First 1 Lectures, for half an hour bev the First Aid lectures. Miss brd has undertaken to secure an stater. In the event of an emerstr, when communications might -cut. an efficient Cycle Corps would • very useful, their work being inaled as 'Despatch' in the scheTe Puke . )!rs Cashmore gave a short re-. :e of her sub-centre's activities :;re things were going very well. :Paengaroa, 23 additional memffl had been enrolled, and three ~aps—transport, first aid and cans:—had been started. Maketu also tithree groups going, and valuable lets were Mrs Hayward and Mrs si, who would lead the camp cook■ni catering group. Both were •iliar with Maori methods of outlooking which might prove very *L Miss Malcolm, District Nurse, • filling to help with first aid fores. Pongakawa was the next tout to be visited.

Physical Fllness Display request fron; the Women's In«Mor a Physical Fitness display •J* Adult Education School, J Protracted discussion, the ; : >ary raising the point as to JJ* such displays were allowed Jf?«r the constitution of the •ffiiaiy. gj% it was unanimously decidJj as Miss Naylor and the Physi;.;7, Ss cl ass were willing to ar- .; a display, it be agreed to, as mhm work would thus he

Amalgamation ik\J°A the simil arity of the .. gnj done by the Canteen and Cooking and Catering iS-S *"* decided that the two i S ugh still retaining Sse four ders an( i conveners. Ue ; t COuld comprise a small t 0 organise the work. T own Can v a s jfijfg* Auxiliary standstill, it was ; ? %<ret ar t ;' out a town canvas. S *a* that she had £ m tho secretary of Sw iZ,\ member 1 an allocation 9 *»ke £ d . be made tnat %% aKe the task as easy as

Absence :^iE rted that she 3 f fom il ngt o 0n for about " 4 *Hh hi/ 2 and would be ca headquarters at Well-

i j. j, General by Mrs Sten--ofemeemer E pl a plan of action lilfcr e<l owS, *V vas ""able to iS"- £2? t 0 tbe lateness V* haYL enhouse explainthe scheme rf fr "ttgglVS? WoUld be & ad a iDed e! ?f Sency - th * chairAuxili ary would c n^ ith the Emerof tL C ° mmittee and A\ . n su Preme a s outullsned to-morrow.)