W.A.A.C.'S INSPECTED

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 22, 20 October 1944, Page 6

W.A.A.C.'S INSPECTED

Lady Newall Watches Girls At Work When her Excellency Lady , Newall, who is honorary commandant-in-chief of the three women’s services in New Zealand, inspected W.A.A.C. units at Trantham military camp on Wednesday afternoon she spent almost three hours watching the W.A.A.C.’s at work and talking with them. She was interested in all details of their activities. At the Army School of Instruction she saw the girls preparing the hot evening meal; in the main ordnance depot they’were busy in the instrument and clothing shops; and in the mobilization camp Lady Newall had afternoon tea in the girls’ recreation hall and inspected the W.A.A.C. kitchen. Due to adverse weather, the formal retreat, which was to conclude the visit and at which her Excellency was to have taken the salute, had to be abandoned. The chief commander, N.Z.W.A.A.C., Mrs. V. Jowelt, 0.8. E., accompanied Lady Newall, who was attended by Miss Walton. At,the Army School her Excellency was met by Colonel D. T. Maxwell, the commandant, and Subaltern D. Isaacs. Major Tomline aud Subaltern Bannister accompanied the party at,the main ordnance depot and LieutenantColonel 11. McHugh, camp commandant, and Subaltern Hogan received _ Lady Newall on arrival at the mobilization camp. Lady Newall’s tour of inspection began at the Army School, when she inspected a parade of W.A.A.C. cookhouse and mess staff. Later she visited the kitchens, where the girls were busy with various tasks. Steaming hot roasts of meat were being carved, potatoes prepared for roasting and greens awaited their turn iu the steamers. Lady Newall admired the long rows of deled able jam tarts that were to be baked later in the great ovens of the ranges which recently, were all converted to oil-burners. Before she left she saw the messes and servery, learned h'ow the meals .were dispensed and watched while a W.A.A.C. demonstrated the use of a “squeegie,” or long-handled mop for washing the floors. ' Looking workmanlike in battledress and raincoats, W.A.A.C.’s at the main ordnance depot paraded for Lady Newall on the loading .platform out of the rain._ In the workshops, W.A.A.C. technicians explained to Lady Newall the intricacies of the delicate jobs they were performing with skill. One was at work on electric aiming points, while another operated a graduation machine for measuring minute distances on compasses and other precision instruments. Seated on high stools with heads bent low over their work, another group of W.A.A.C.’s were busy fixing binoculars. They clean them, polish, assemble, adjust and make all corrections, the utmost accuracy having to be observed in all that, is done. In the clothing inspection store, her Excellency was told how part-worn Army clothing was reconditioned. After laundering, it is carefully checked for holes, missing buttons and other minor repairs, marked for sizes and packed. The repair section has just, been formed,_ this work having previously been, done in Wellington. Some of the W.A.A.C.’s were previously in artillery or signals units and not wanting to leave the Army have been posted to this new work. _ After inspecting, in pouring rain, the W.A.A.C. "guard of honour provided by the mobilization camp W.A.A.C. unit, Lady Newall met the girls when she had afternoon tea with them. The delicious cakes and savouries had been made by the W.A.A.C.’s and were enjoyed by representatives from the other units which Lady Newall had already seen. Her Excellency sat down with each group for some time, talking with each girl.