SURPRISE RESPONSE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 206, 29 May 1944, Page 7

SURPRISE RESPONSE

Americans’ Fiancees And Wives Crowd Meeting Wellington girls engaged or married to American servicemen showed their ready enthusiasm to become acquainted with each other and with matters relevant to their future life in the United States when more than 240 wives (including not a few mothers), fiancees aud girl friends attended at the Y.W.C.A. on Saturday afternoon. They first packed the Y.W.C.A. lounge, the capacity of which had originally been considered sufficient, then formed a queue on the steps and extended dowu into the street, and the Blue Triangle Hall had to be utilized at short notice by Mrs. W. R. Nve. who initiated the meeting' and is responsible for launching this helpful scheme. She welcomed the girls and commented on their fine response, adding that correspondence members would also be eligible. Mrs. Nye explained that the project was aiming to further knowledge and understanding both of their own land and their future homes. It would cement friendships and establish links between New Zealand girls who would be living in the United States. She outlined several ideas, mentioning the possibility of special clubrooms, cookery classes, and study circles to cover such subjects as American literature, geography, art. and history, and related New Zealand subjects. Suggestions for giving enlightening information in advance to help cope with any difficulties which may be encountered in unfamiliar surroundings met with general agreement. Forty-five of the 48 States of the Union were represented. They were classified and labelled by Mrs. A. Schade, and a convener was appointed to. each group. California predominated with, a group total of 48, and Texas will claim 22 Wellington girls. In view. of. the large number of members, it is likely that future groups may have to be subdivided into sections for wives, fiancees and mothers. Regular meetings arc to be planned, the next being arranged for June 8, at St. Francis Hall. This will begin at 7.45 and is under the direction of the Texan group, whose convener is Mrs. J. E. Smith, jun.