Kerikeri Women Open Defence Register

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 4

Kerikeri Women Open Defence Register

A meeting, sponsored by the Women's Institutes of Kerikeri and surrounding districts, was held at the Cathay Theatre. The object or the meeting was to bring together and train an efficient body of women ready to co-operate with the naval, military, air force and civil authorities in any national emergency, but especially in view of the present international situation. A temporary committee, consisting of Mesdames Marples, Murphy. Black, Wallace. E. Jones* Judd and Miss Lois Kendall, who have volunteered to canvass the women of Kerikeri and the surrouding districts was formed. It was decided to compile a local register, similar to that used in the j national defence scheme in England, I so that women would be enrolled under ; the heading in which they were most I j capable of serving. These headings inI elude nursing and all medical work, I care of children and kindergarten, all [ branches of catering and office work, a j technical branch consisting of car drij vers, air pilots, telegraphists, etc., and |several other groups capable of j absorbing any person wishing to | volunteer.

On completion of the canvass a committee will be formed of one member from each group, which will then take over from the present committee.

Mrs Marples stressed the point that not only in England, Australia and other parts of the world were the women getting ready to defend their homes, but in New Zealand women were realising the necessity of being prepared, and she hoped Kerikeri would not lag behind in what might be a race against time.