PATRIOTIC WORK BY WOMEN

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 7

PATRIOTIC WORK BY WOMEN

WEEK’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED

A meeting of the Invercargill Women’s Metropolitan Patriotic Committee was held in the Town Hall yesterday. Those present were Mesdames J. Hargest (deputy-chairman), F. J. Raines, J. Mcllwraith, M. Simmonds, A. Walker, R. C. Abernethy, B. Hewat, R. Walker, R. Miller, J. D. Campbell, R. Acton, J. Morrison, F. N. Watson and J. Ruthven. Mrs A. J. Neil (secretary) was also present. Apologies for absence were received from-Mesdames J. R. Hanan, J. Kennard and Stanley Brown. Before proceeding _ with the other business of the meeting, it was decided that a letter be written to Mrs Brown wishing her a speedy recovery from her illness.

A letter was read from Mrs KentJohnson, president of the Christchurch Welcome Club, advising the committee that Saturday, July 6, had been set aside so that th,e Southland women could provide a tea for the soldiers on leave from Bumham. The secretary was asked to communicate with Mrs Kent-Johnson accepting this date, and advising her that a cheque for the purchase of the goods required would, be forwarded immediately. The secretary reported that in answer to the appeal for mittens published in last Saturday’s notes, some 11 dozen pairs had already been sent in, and when the 12 dozen mark had been reached they would be sent on to Burnham as the first instalment.

It was also reported that the main sub-committee in the country had been advised about the number of parcels required from each district. Mrs Hargest asked that an appeal be made to all the country women to send in donations of goods or completed parcels to help the town women to make up the quota that had been asked from Southland.

Mr W. Grieve asked about the payment of money collected for the. Patriotic Fund. These sums had previously been paid in at the Town Hall and it had been decided that it would simplify matters if the money were paid direct to the Southland Provincial Patriotic Fund at the Bank of New Zealand.

Various points of interest to the sub-committee members were discussed, and arrangements were made for the stands for Friday’s street day for selling tickets for the motor-car, now being raffled for the funds. The secretary is arranging to have 100 copies of the mitten pattern printed and distributed to the sub-committees for the knitters. This will be done next week.

Competition for the barometer.— Winner, Mr R. Barr, Army Ticket No. C 127.

REPORTS FROM SUB-COMMITTEES A sub-committee calling itself South Invercargill Borough Patriotic Committee has been formed. The following officers were appointed: —President, Miss K. O’Halloran (c/o Mrs O. Patton); secretary, Mrs I. Fraser (c/o Mr Agnew); committee, Mesdames A. Adams, O. Patton, J. Patton, E. Waghorn, E. Weddle and D. Harris. South Invercargill B donations: Miss S. Fleming, Grace street, £5; Miss J. Fleming, Grace street, £5; Mrs C. Macdonald, Conon street, £1; Mrs A. Allen, £2. The sale of sweets at the community sing in aid of the Army Princess realized the sum of £l/15/6. The Girls Patriotic Committee has handed in £2/4/6, the proceeds of a party. Mrs G. Hesselyn has handed in £l/6/-, proceeds of a 500 evening held at her home. Avenal-Northend. —Donations: Mrs Cowie, 2/6; anonymous, 18/-; weekly donation, “N.G.,” 17/6; Mrs C. F. A. Jones, £10; Miss Nicholson, £2/2/-. Mrs W. J. .A. McGregor has given a Gulbransen piano player and 25 records, Mrs James Macalister a washing machine, Mrs Denniston Cuthbertson a set of torquoise martrix jewellery to the Avenal Sub-Committee to dispose of to swell the funds of the Army Princess. An afternoon party will be held at Elmwood Garden for gifts of goods and money for soldiers’ parcels on Tuesday, June 18. Mrs Hemmings will be the speaker. At the jumble sale held in the St. Paul’s schoolroom the sum of £2O was realized. Gladstone.—A travel talk by Mrs Lillicrap has been arranged. This will be at the home of Mrs Lilly Smith, Duke street, on Monday, June 17. Mr, W. J. A. McGregor has given a Shetland pony with saddle and bridle for the funds of the Navy Princess. The Girls’ Club had a successful bridge and mah jong evening at the home of Mrs T. F. Gilkinson on Thursday, £4 being collected at this function. Waikiwi.—The bring-and-buy sale held by this committee recently realized the sum of £24/0/6, and a card evening £7. The latter function was arranged by Mesdames Waters, Martin and McKenzie. Competitions: Black cat, Mrs Bell; dinner, Mrs Newton; cover, Mrs Shields; felt bag, ticket 2631, Mrs F. Steans, 49 Hensley street. North Invercargill.—The Girls’ Club is arranging a dance to be held in the Southland Boys’ High School Assembly Hall on Saturday, June 22, for the fund of the Air Force Princess. South Invercargill A.—The fortnightly flag 500 will be held in the Bowmont street kindergarten on Thursday, June 20. Arrangements have been made to hold a jumble sale in the Knox Hall, Conon street, on Friday, June 21. A successful gift afternoon was held in the Knox Hall on Wednesday. Donations and gifts received will provide the committee’s full quota of parcels for the 3rd Echelon. On Monday at 2.30 p.m. a meeting will be held in the Knox Hall, Conon street, to elect additional members to the committee. Women who offered their services at the gift afternoon and anyone interested are invited to attend. East Invercargill.—The next of this committee’s flag 500 evenings will be on Tuesday. Donations: Mr V. Vial £5, Mr N. Carter £2/2/-; Mrs and Miss Henderson 10/-; Mrs Frazer 10/-; Anonymous £1; Mrs Cameron 10/-. Central.—This committee, together with Georgetown and North Invercargill, held a very successful community sing for the Air Force princess on Thurs-

day evening. Mrs J. D. Campbell, the president of the Georgetown sub-com-mittee, arranged a very attractive programme. Another attractive feature was a song composed by Miss Jean Cockerell, lady-in-waiting to the princess in North Invercargill. The thanks of the Central committee are due to all those people in both town and country who sent in goods for auction and also money to swell the funds. Special mention is made of Miss Joyce Duff for her gift of egg cups for auction. Full particulars of the proceeds from this function are not yet available. Donations: Mrs J. J. Wesney, £10; Miss Blackie, £2. Granny Martin’s Cakes: £5, winner, Joyce Tinker, Waikiwi. Georgetown.—The monthly meeting of this committee was held in the Venus street hall on Monday evening, June 10. Mrs J. D. Campbell presided. Competition for cushion: Ticket No. 4174, Mrs McLachlan, Hardy street. Street collections for June, £6O; Mr S. A. Faircloth, donation, £2/2/-; donation, Mrs R. H. Kidston, £lt donation, “A Soldiers’ Mother,” £1; proceeds dance arranged by Junior Committee, £l4; proceeds concert by June Campbell and Gladys Howie, £2/3/6; proceeds concert arranged by Ellison Harvey and mates, 10/-; car raffle tickets sold,. £65; total, £145/15/6. Arrangements have been made that the

soldiers’ parcels are to be bought by the Central secretary, Mrs Neil, £5 being given as our quota. We will also supply 40 tins of condensed milk and completed hussifs. The junior committee is holding a barn dance tonight in Wright, Stephenson and Company’s wool store at Avenal. Tickets for the concert in Georgetown hall on June 25 arc still on sale.