More Knitters Needed For Airmen Overseas

Northern Advocate, 26 April 1944, Page 4

More Knitters Needed For Airmen Overseas

Enough khaki garments to last for some time are in store in New Zealand but there is a definite need for more air force garments and, principally for that reason, the Dominion and Whangarei leaders of the AitForce Relations movement have just completed a tour of Northland to recruit more knitters. The Dominion President (Mrs L. M. Isitt), Dominion Secretary (Miss C. Morice) and the Auckland President (Mrs M. W. Buckley) were welcomed on arrival at Whangarei by the Mayoress (Mrs W. Jones) and afterwards met the Whangarei Committee at the residence of Mrs Dr Ward. After inspecting the stock of woollen garments ready for despatch to headquarters, they expressed the opinion that there must be expert knitters in Northland. Accompanied by Mrs W. Jones and Mrs W. A. Mardon, president and secretary respectively of the Northpoumjjojua ojoav .-foqj ‘qouejq puuf the Whatitiri Comforts Club at the home of Mrs Russell, where the club president (Mrs Wilson) welcomed them. A useful meeting at Dargaville was presided over by Mrs A. E. Harding. Mrs Frank took the chair at a conference with the Kaikohe A.F.R. branch, and at Kaitaia Mrs W. Geard acted as hostess. The final visit was to Paihia, where Mr Pickwick presided.

Khaki Stocks Ample

At all these meetings Mrs Isitt and Miss Morice addressed those present. Miss Morice outlined the history of A.F.R. which commenced its activities in September, 1939, and stressed the urgency for woollen garments for our airmen. She pointed out that the National Patriotic Fund Board had directed all Provincial Patriotic Councils that, owing to the large expansion in air force personnel, the board has arranged to supply Air Force Relations with double the quantity of knitting wool formerly supplied, and this will call for a corresponding increase in the number of knitters required. by A.F.R. In view of the reduction in the number of khaki woollen comforts required by army personnel the board has requested all provincial councils to invite knitters who formerly knitted khaki garments to switch over to the knitting of air force comforts. To the end of last year over 153,700 garments had been knitted from wool supplied from National patriotic funds and despatched to our airmen both in New Zealand and overseas. To erlsure that garments are comfortable and well fitting, women from A.F.R. visit the training stations, issue the garments and fit them.

Authorities had said that .stocks of khaki garments were sufficient for ai* foreseeable needs for some months to come so that knitters could change over without any misgivings. Woollen mills were concentrating on the blue wool for tienext few months, and there was ample wool to be got through Air Force Relations to keep all knitters busy. Air Force Relations did not "confine itself to knitting, Miss Morice said. Those branches near air stations staffed canteens, and visitd airmen in hospital. Some branches made special hussifs, and in addition supplies of tinned goods were sent as often as 'possible to England, who'*-, through a special committee, they were distributed to New Zealand seivicemen in hospitals there. “This work is really worthwhile,” said Miss Morice. “It is one way of showing our appreciation for all our airmen have done and are doing for us.” Mrs. Isitt, one of the two founders of Air Force Relations, talked of conditions in the Pacific as they affected the Air Force boys there, the care that was taken of them in diet and medically, and the precautions that were taken to ensure their rescue when forced down in either sea or jungle.

Her talk interestingly emphasised the need for warm garments in Canada, where she spent two years, and to those women with relatives over there, her description of the friendliness and hospitality to which the New Zealand lads were treated was most heartening.