WIVES AND MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1942, Page 8

WIVES AND MOTHERS

MEET

A COMFORTING ASSURANCE

Her Excellency Lady Newall was present at Christchurch on Monday afternoon at a large gathering of wives and mothers of men of the forces who are missing or prisoners of war. Lady Newall, who was accompanied by Miss Nora Walton, was met on arrival by Miss M. G. Havelaar, Miss P. Boyle, Mrs. J. G. L. Vernon, and the Mayoress (Miss E. Couzins). Her Excellency met a large number of the wives and mothers, making personal inquiries about their relatives.

A bouquet was presented to Lady Newall by Jan Davis, daughter of Major Ernest Davis, who is a prisoner of war. The guard of honour was formed of members of the Red Cross V.A.D. cooking unit under Mrs. Douglas Macfarlane.

:Miss Havelaar, who is in charge of the prisoners of war - department of the Joint Council of the Red Cross and the Order of St. John, welcomed her Excellency in the name of the guests. She spoke also of the cheering cablegram received from Geneva which stressed that however many countries were at war the relatives at home

might be assured that the care for the prisoners and the regular dispatch of. parcels would be continued as before.

An encouraging address was given by Lady Newall, who was shown a collection of some thirty paintings by Corporal A. A. Deans, who is a prisoner of war, these being lent to the Art Gallery, where the meeting was held, by his mother, Mrs. Alister Deans, Darfield;