WOMEN’S AIR AUXILIARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24738, 15 October 1941, Page 6

WOMEN’S AIR AUXILIARY

OPENING OF WET CANTEEN CHURCH BODIES CONCERNED (P.A.) LEVIN, Oct. 14 Considerable consternation has been caused in certain circles at the opening of a wet canteen for the members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force serving at the R.N.Z.A.F. station at Levin.' A strong protest has been forwarded to the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, and the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, by the Levin Ministers' Association, the churches, and the W.C.T.U. The matter has also been taken up by the president of the Methodist Conference (the Rev. W. A. Burley), the secretary of the New Zealand Alliance (Mr H. W. Milner), the Dominion president of the W.C.T.U. (Mrs S. H. Perryman), and the Public Questions Committee of the Wellington Presbytery. NOT AUTHORISED ASSURANCE BY MINISTER (0.C.) WELLINGTON. Oct. 14. “The public can be assured that no provision has been or will bo authorised for the establishment of wet canteens for members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force serving at Levin or elsewhere,” said the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, to-day. when there was referred to him a message from Levin staling that a wet canteen had been opened for women serving at the Royal New Zealand Air Force station there. “If members of the W.A.A.F. have been afforded oppoxdunities of obtaining intoxicating liquor at Levin, this was done without the knowledge or authority of Air Force Headquarters or myself, .and will immediately be slopped,” he added. “In the meantime, I have called for a ful] report on the matter." ACTION BY PRESBYTERY INQUIRIES TO BE INSTITUTED (0.C.) OAMARU, Oct. 14. A communication alleging that a wet canteen was to be erected in a W.A.A.F comp in New Zealand was received at a meeting of the Oamaru Presbytery this morning. The matter was discussed at length. , The Rev. W. Lawson Marsh stressed the urgency of the matter, and suggested that someone should be appointed to ascertain the facts an'd report to the assembly. It was decided to authorise the Life and Work Committee to make inquiries and make such representations as it thought fit to the authorities.