WORK FOR REFUGEES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 215, 9 August 1940, Page 9

WORK FOR REFUGEES.

UNITED GUILD FORMED. There ivas a large attendance of ladies, between 200 .and 300, ill the Salvation Army social hall, last evening, at a meeting called by Mrs Major c Dick’s committee to consider the tor- e mation of a guild to work for refugees. a Mrs Dick welcomed those present, l “I think that a statement by me at c this stage will serve to shorten our j discussions this evening, and also to' G explaiu very brieflv the reason for cer-; f tain modifications of the proposal that j will be made to the meeting,” she t added. “All those present will 'know i j that the advertisement calling the ; meeting for this evening stated that j the object of the meeting is the tor-i g mation of a branch of the Lady Gal- 1 j way Patriotic Guild. This advertise- j merit was inserted as the result of in- j formation supplied to three members of the executive who travelled to Wei- ( lington for the express purpose of ob- , taining it from the secretary of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild. AYe are ( now given to understand that the in- j formation supplied to them does not f coincide with the views of the National j Patriotic Council. If it is the desire j of those present to continue with their , j enthusiastic sewing and other work j j that lias been so ciieerfullv and excellently undertaken up to the present time, it is desirable in the setting up ■ of a guild for the purpose that the j name by which we are to be known, meanwhile, should contain no refer- . enco to the Lady Galway Guild and, further, that the word ‘Patriotic should not bo used. In making this statement I feel I should say that the ■ ladies concerned were justified in considering that the source from which their first information was received was authoritative.” I Mrs Dick then asked for nominations for a chairman for the meeting. I Mrs C. A. Small was elected and call--1 cd on Mrs AY. F. Field to present a report of an interview between Mrs Dick, Mesdames Field and Jacques and Mr C. G. Stewart, general secretary of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild at Government House on August 2. Mrs Field read an account of 1 the conversation between Mr Stewart, and the ladies from Palmerston North, in which, the latter had been given to understand that they could form a branch of the Lady Galway Guild. ! l Mrs Small commented that as mfor- • mation had since come to hand that the committee could not call tbem--1 selves the Lady Galway Guild, it was suggested that they become the TJintjcd Guild. It was duly proposed and ' i carried unanimously that the United 'i Guild be formed. | Mrs Dick said that 4400 garments; ’jin 27 cases had been sent forward. 1 She explained that the name “United ! Guild” had been chosen because so! I many churches and other organisa-i Itions were uniting in the guild. She ! thanked the members for all they had 1 done. They had been Christian women | endeavouring to uphold the highest standards and she felt they would ’ maintain the same high ideal the Lm- | piro was fighting for, which was really , Mrs Dick was unanimously electee! 7 1 chairwoman and look office. She briefly 1 returned thanks for the confidence 5 ! shown in her and proposed that the former committee be re-elected, and r this was also carried unanimously. Mrs Dick said that she considered the work was too important to be held in abeyance for lack of a name, and she 1 i was sure that they would all set to I ! work harder than ever. She assured \ them that the results of their work would be sent oii .to Wellington with: 1 out delay, as previously. Appreciation was expressed of the ' action of the P.D.C. in granting the j I continued use of a room, and it was , decided to send a letter of thanks to b the management. A list of the organisations supporting the guild was then read. Mrs AY. G. Black, proposing a vote of thanks to Mrs Dick, said: “Since patriotic work began in Palmerston North Mrs Dick has been in the fore--7| front of it. Her enthusiasm, her sm--1 cerity, her unassuming manner and her qualities of leadership have prove<l an inspiration, to those who work with her. She has endeared herself to all of us. I move that this public ’ meeting of ladies records its appreciation of the services rendered by Mrs

Dick in this city and expresses its complete confidence in her, and we sincerely trust she and her husband will rerpaiu in Palmerston North for many years to come.” This was enthusiastically carried. Airs Dick'thanked those present for the confidence expressed in her and the committee. Fourteen names were added to tnc committee of 49.