WORKERS FOR NAVY LEAGUE PRAISED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 281, 24 August 1944, Page 6

WORKERS FOR NAVY LEAGUE PRAISED

Lady Newall A Guest At Presidents’ Reception Troughs aud baskets of beautiful flowers were used profusely, to decorate the palm lounge of the Hotel St. George yesterday afternoon, when Sir Charles Norwood, president of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, and Lady Norwood, gave a reception in honour of women workers for the Navy League. Her Excellency Lady Newall was present, also Mrs. P. Fraser, Mrs. Appleton. Lady Lake, president of the league’s ladies auxiliary, members of the N.Z. Navy League War Council and of the AVeUington executive. . Ladv Newall. who was accompanied by Miss Walton, was presented with a spray of orchids and spring flowers by Sir Charles’s small granddaughter. Jennifer Norwood. Similar sprays were presented to the other three special women guests. Mrs. A. L. George and Mrs. Walter Norwood helped in looking after the guests, who numbered approximately 100. lea was served at individual flower-decked tables. Mrs. H. Al. Barnard and Miss A. Crabtree, two benefactors and staunch helpers of the league in Wellington, were presented to. her Excellency, also conveners of the various branches of women s work, spinning, knitting and sewing and packing, which the auxiliary carries on at three separate city depots. Sir Charles said her Excellency had expressed tlie wish to be present, in order to meet the women who had been doing much valuable work during the war years. Alany of these women, though lacking in home help, worked long hours over the comforts that were for the boys going to sea. Many fine letters had come from the recipients of these excellent things, and though not all the helpers received them, they worked on just the same. Women’s Work Praised.

“I do feel, in my capacity as wife of the Governor-General, how very fortunate I am in seeing, all over this Dominion, the work of its women and the privilege it is to me to see the teamwork there is in all departments, whether of war or peacetime activities.” said Lady Newall. “Wherever I have seen Navy League women’s work I have been impressed with its fine quality, the beautiful knitting, for instance, so finely done that it bears the scrutiny of the strongest eyeglasses. It would take all afternoon if she were to enumerate the special help given by all the splendid women, she said. The Navy League covered the Alercantile Alarine. said Lady NewalL Last year, on her voyage to and from England, she had seen splendid men of the Afercantile Alarine in action. In both ships were men who had been torpedoed and adrift in lifeboats anything from four to 40 days. They escaped death because of the gifts from the league workers that were in the boat. “Your getting up early and other stories of your endeavours for the work, filter through and reach our ears.” her Excellency told the women. “We are all aware, and have knowledge of, the great traditions of the British Navy, and you have added great credit to the women’s side of the services in this war.” Lady Newall congratulated Sir Charles Norwood on the success of the party and on the fact that it was also his birthday. r, , J The chairman of the_ New Zealand Navy League AVar Council, Air. J. Sutherland Ross. Dunedin, and Commander Palmer, of the Auckland league, congratulated the women workers and assured them that their work would be as much needed in peacetime as it had been in war. Both stressed the marvellous help given by women in country areas.