ENGLISH GIRLS SEEK PEN FRIENDS

Southland Times, Issue 25565, 8 January 1945, Page 6

ENGLISH GIRLS SEEK PEN FRIENDS

Mayor Receives Letter

A letter from four English girls who want to correspond with four young persons living in Invercargill, has been received by the Mayor, Mr A. Wachner. In their letter they express the opinion that friendships in other countries bring a better understanding of that country’s customs and habits. As New Zealand was their ideal country, they thought that if they could each correspond with someone in Invercargill, they could see the faults of their own country and could try to correct them in a small way among their friends and neighbours. “People in the British Isles are very reserved when it comes to making new friends, but once the barrier is broken we can be just as friendly as New Zealanders,” states the letter. “During the war this barrier has been broken and we would like it to stay broken when peace comes. If it does not, the British Isles will still have the reputation of being cold and reserved and may be called snobbish. Please don’t think this of all the English, because really we aren’t like that, and maybe if four young persons of your town would write to us, perhaps they would be as interested in us as we in you.” The letter concludes with a hope that victory will be achieved in the near future and with good wishes to the people of Invercargill from the signatories, who are:—Miss Betty Bloomfield (20 years), 24 Treverton street, North Kensington, London, W.10; Miss Pamela Filer (18J), 102 Bilton Road, Perivale, Greenford, Middlesex; Miss Maureen Douglas (19J), 28 Torbay road, South Harrow, Harrow, Middlesex; and Miss Edith Cowne (19|), 61 Marne street, Queen’s Park, London, W.lO.