OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1941, Page 10

OBITUARY

MRS. W. J. POLSON

The late Mrs. Florence Ada Mary Lamb Poison, whose death occurred at Wanganui on Wednesday, was the wife of Mr. W. J. Poison. M.P. for Stratford. She was born in Melbourne in 1879, the fifth and youngest daughter lof Alfred and Martha Wilson, of that j city Educated first at the Presbyterian Women's College there, and at an academy in Paris, she spent a number of years on the Continent, during which time she acquired an intimate knowledge of the French and German languages. She travelled extensively and lived in South Africa for two years before returning to Australia.

Mrs. Poison was married in Melbourne in 1910 and came to New Zealand, settling at Manurewa. In 1928, after Mr Poison became member for Stratford, she divided her time between these two places Mrs Poison founded the W.D.F.U movement and did a vast amount of work for it.

She was predeceased by her sisters. Mesdames Henry Butler and Francis Harman, both of Melbourne and ncr son, Donald Gunn ("Jim"), who died in 1927. She is survived by her husband, her daughter Mrs. James Cran stone, and her sons. John and Robin and also by her sisters. Mesdames 1. M Moss and Edward Chase, both of Melbourne.

WOMEN READY

WAR SERVICE AUXILIARY

INDUSTRIAL GROUPS IN

TRAINING

More than half of the 500 women and girls in the industrial section of the Women's War Service Auxiliary have completed the training courses available to them at the Wellington Technical College. They have been trained by experts in canteen cookery, laundering, and industrial work, and every term, as more women complete their courses in one or other of these subjects, more and more are available should an emergency arise. The train ees vary in age from girls in their teens to women in the sixties. Already this year 33 of those studying at the Technical College have com pleted their training.

The War Service Auxiliary stresses the importance of physical fitness, and drill classes are held once a week, with additional physical fitness classes. Older women attend afternoon classes and other sections of the auxiliary also take part.