Mrs. Roosevelt Has Another Busy Day

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 209, 3 September 1943, Page 5

Mrs. Roosevelt Has Another Busy Day

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 2. Yet another crowded day of hospital tours and receptions was spent cheerfully and tirelessly to-day by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. In four hospitals she spoke collectively to thousands ol Americans and New Zealanders. She greeted and chatted with hundreds of individual servicemen and civilians. She also inspected the meat canning department of a freezing works, visited the Devonport naval base, called at the Women's Services Club, attended din ner a 3 the guest of American arm> officers, and concluded her day by ad dressing a great gathering of Auckland women. “I never imagined that things had gone so far,” said Mrs. Roosevelt in commenting upon the construction oi American hospitals and other buildings in New Zealand during her visit to a partly finished naval hospital. The civilians are doing a wonderful job of work. She also praised the work of the medical corps for their care of sick and injured men, “This is a lovely place,” she commented on her arrival at a huge army hospital which has been built in a city park. Two hours were spent by Mrs. Roosevelt in a seemingly endless journey from ward to ward and from bed to bed. After lunching in the patients* mess, Mrs. Roosevelt went on to the naval receiving barracks in another park. The most colourful event in tho day’s programme was her drive through the Auckland hospital grounds and her visit to New Zealand patients in the Domain Auxiliary hospital. She showed intense interest in the work of women and girls employed in canning meat for American and New Zealand forces at the WestficU Freezing Works. Later Mrs. Roosevelt visited Devonport naval base and inspected parades of Wrens and civilian women personnel.

Good attendances were welcomed at the euchre and 500 parties at the National Club on Tuesday and Wednesday. Prizes were won by Mesdames Stevens and P. Tietzens and Mr. Mason (euchre) and Mrs. Stevens and Mr. S. Rawcliffe (500)*