WELCOME CLUB

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24094, 2 November 1943, Page 2

WELCOME CLUB

TRIBUTE PAID BY MAYOR WORK OF YEAR REVIEWED “When the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr A. Wachner) paid me a visit a short time age he handed me a £lO note for the Welcome Club, as its members had done such a great service for the Southland soldiers," said the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) when presiding at the fourth annual meeting of the Christchurch Welcome Club last night. "This speaks for itself,” he added. He congratulated the management committee on the very successful running of the club. A . Another speaker said that an Air Force officer, who censored letters, had told him that hardly a letter went out of his camp that did not mention with warm appreciation the fine work of the Welcome Club and the Union Jack Club in Christchurch. It was estimated, said the report, that 46,000 meals had been served to men during the dast 12 months, and some helpers had dried more dishes at the club after one meal than they had done in months at home, A steady average had been maintained, which worked out at about 400 men for each meal. No fewer than 87 societies, firms, and organisations, and two private individuals had taken turns at sponsoring meals, and of these, 28 firms had done so for the first time.

To estimate requirements for catering was still a difficult task, said the report. There had been times when the last piece of bread or the last biscuit had been served out, but never at any time had any man. to the committee’s knowledge, left the club hungry. At other times food had been left over, but nothing was ever wasted. Perishable fooa was distributed to social organisations, and any food that had become unfit for human consumption had been sent to fatten pigs at the Bottle Lake farm.

More than 11,000 men and women had attended the services dance held each week, and the Saturday night dances had proved as popular as ever during the last year. Members of the Girls’ Guild of Service had stood loyally by the club during the year. Tire Sunday evening concerts had given a variety of entertainment to men and women of the services. During the year the executive and helpers had entertained numbers of Allied soldiers, sailors, and airmen who had visited the city on leave or in transit, and had been impressed with the tie of fellowship and friendship existing among these men and the New Zealanders,

After the business of the meeting had been completed an entertaining programme, which had been arranged by Mrs R. J McLaren, was presented by Miss G Ardagh (songs). Trevor Hutton (piccolo solos), Miss Daisy Perry (songs) Romola Griffiths (violin solos), the Geary sisters (vocal quartettes), Ivan Costello (lightning sketching), Miss Bessie Pollard (pianoforte solos). Rex Harrison (baritone solos), J. J Flewellen (humorous items), T. D Williams (bass solos), Miss Perry and Mr Harrison (vocal duet), May Magumess and Alice Freeman (sketch). The accompanists were Mrs J. H. Cocks and Miss Bessie Pollard.