LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 18, 21 July 1943, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

REMARKS AT APPEAL BOARD

Sir, —As the report in last evening's "Post" respecting the attendance of the Press at sititngs of the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board is likely to cause misconception, I desire to clear up two points. First, as deputy member of the board, I am occasionally required to act in the unavoidable absence of the actual member (Mr. Canham) In such capacity I have attended all sittings to which I have been summoned; indeed, I have attended two sittings in the last fortnight. Therefore, it is entirely misleading to assert that I have attended only "twice out of 150 meetings." Secondly, as deputy member, I have attended sittings as aforesaid over a long period. During that time, although the board has dealt .with a considerable number of appeals affecting numerous industries and undertakings, I have seen the Press present on two occasions only, and, by a strange coincidence, it was when appeals affecting waterside workers were being heard. It was this "strange coincidence" which led me to remark in regard thereto, and, if possible, find the reason.

I know from Press reports that the Press has been present on other occasions, but in my case, the Press has been present only twice and on the instances mentioned. Finally, I repeat that I have no objection to the Press being present, and only regret that it is not possible for the Press to be present at all sittings. Thanking you in anticipation for the opportunity to correct any erroneous impression which may have been gathered from the remarks of the deputy chairman. —I am, etc.,

P. M. BUTLER,

WOMEN AND CLUBS

Sir, —I noticed a report in the paper that Mr. B. O. Peterson stated that all the clubs in town that had a grant from the Patriotic Fund would be required to put in a report every three months to the Patriotic Council.- Presumably Mr. Peterson thinks that the clubs with a grant from the Patriotic Fund provide dances, etc.. for men and women of the forces. The only clubs in town that will allow servicewomen to attend their dances are the A.N.A. and the Allied Services Club. In wartime men and women should be treated alike. Many of the girls that come into town from isolated camps have no friends in Wellington, and I think that those girls have as much right as the men to attend any patriotic club. It is bad policy to turn young girls out on the streets to wander around the town at night. I hope that Mr. Peterson takes up this subject with the authorities of different clubs and finds out what their attitude is before giving another1 patriotic grant, which, after all, lias been provided by the public for the good of the services.—l am, etc.,

NOT WELLINGTON GIRL.