SOCIAL EVENING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6243, 17 June 1946, Page 4

SOCIAL EVENING

RED CROSS FUNCTION MEMORABLE EVENING SPENT The social evening held in the Town Hall on Friday night under the auspices of the Te Awamutu sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society, was in all respects an unqualified success. There was a very large attendance of town and country members and friends, indicative of the fact that despite the war is over there is a sincere recognition of the excellent work done by the Society and that there is ample scope for the active continuance of the Society. The stage wings were decorated with large artificial flowers and flags gave an appropriate touch. Mr H. Andrew presided. Prior to the commencement of the proceedings, the Municipal Orchestra, under the baton of Mr R. H. Close, played a number of greatly appreciated selections and they also opened the proceedings proper with the r,election “Gallant Soldier.” The Ladies’ Choir, then sang two songs most pleasingly- Master Brian Salmon, a young conjurer of great promise, presented several feats in magic, the tricks being cleverly and neatly done, and they were enjoyed by the large audience. Cornet solos by Mr L. Lee also pleased greatly, as did a bracket of songs by Mrs Blackler, who always gives enjoyment by her beautifully rendered items. Mrs Hull, always a favourite, gave two elocutionary items, “Types at the Play” and “The Good Samaritan,” to the delight of the audience. The Orchestra also rendered a selection that was appreciated. There were two speakers, the Revs. L. F. Gunn and M. G. Sullivan.

Mr Gunn dealt dealt with the value of welfare work in Italy and he congratulated the Red Cross Society, particularly the local branch, on the very fine work that they had accomplished during the war years. The result of that work was greatly appreciated by those overseas, and he assured them that while those at home may have at times doubted if their work was worthwhile, that it was so. And he spoke as one who was at the receiving end. One of the most important phases of war was the maintenance of morale to keep the men happy and contented and the receipt of parcels and letters did much to assist ih that direction and he thanked those who had contributed. Mr Gunn thanked those who wrote regularly to the men overseas, especially to those who did not have so many friends writing to them. While men did not mind being left out of some things, they did not like being left out at mail time. Although some of the men might not have had much to say in the letters that they wrote in return to those received, they wiere always thrilled to get them and the parcels sent through the Red Cross and the Patriotic Societies were also greatly appreciated. Mr Gunn spoke in humorous vein of some of the articles that figured in every parcel, but he said that they were at all times welcome and the opening up of them, was somewhat akin to the opening of Christmas stockings. Mr Gunn went on to speak of the times when the men were “resting” when work was kept down to a minimum, and the leave periods. It was then that their contributions towards the sports gear, the equipment of the Y.M.C.A. and Church Army establishments meant so much. The whole of the amenities were the result of the contributions of those at home. Speaking of leave, Mr Gunn said some of the hotels the men stayed at, particularly in Florence, surpassed anything in that line in New Zealand. The soldiers lived in those hotels and saw magnificent sights while on leave, and such was made possible by your contributions, said Mr Qunn. All those things made for the good fighting spirit that New Zealanders were famed for. The English leave scheme was also made possible by their contributions and the scheme came at a time when by reason of uncertainty as to their future movements, their morale and spirits were at low ebb. The scheme was magnificently carried out and the seven days’ journey through the Continent was one of great enjoyment. Mr Gunn paid a great tribute to the British organisation of that trip, and the reception the thousands of men received in England would never be forgotten. The people of England went out of their way to make the New Zealanders welcome and it was largely due to the memories the English people had of the men of World War I. and the people regarded the Second N.Z.E.F. as their successors. It was a great privilege to be in England. Mr Gunn closed by again thanking those present for their contributions and war efforts that made, it possible for the welfare work in Italy to operate so successfully. Mr Sullivan, in speaking of conditions in England, painted, what a subsequent speaker rightly termed, a vital and gripping picture of England as seen through the eyes of one who came from’the young and virile country of New Zealand. Before doing so, Mr Sullivan paid a tribute to the work of the Red Cross Society. After leaving Italy Mr Sullivan went to England where he worked among the prisoners of war who were rehabilitated physically, morally and temporally. The people of England gave unbounded hospitality and they shared their meagre rations with the men from the Dominions. Mr Sullivan paid an unstinted tribute to the cool, strong courage of the people of England who had carried a vast share of the burden of the war. They shared their hearts and homes. Things seen in England and experiences they had kindled the imaginations and stirred the feelings of those who had the privilege of Witnessing them. Mr Sullivan then asked his hearers to picture London, that vast and unconquerable city. In vivid word pictures he portrayed St. Paul’s Cathedral which bore evidence of the spirit of the people; the English pub which was the social centre of the village where men and women met, drank a pint of beer in two and a-half hours, played a game of darts and spent a social hour. Then there was the glorious countryside, seen as the speaker saw it, adorned with autumn colours. In the countryside, relieved with its hedges and glimpses of old churches, there was the mellowness and maturity which made such an appeal to those who came from a youthful and vigorous country such as New Zealand. Mr Sullivan then gave glimpses of scarred and battered places where once stood houses and buildings, but after a blitz looked like vacant sections. He

instanced Bristol, the heart of which had been battered out; Dover where for weeks on end the people had lived in caves. The speaker dealt with the gravity of the food position in England. The rations were small and monotonous and the people eked out the rations by tilling the ground and production was increased even though the methods seemed antiquated compared with New Zealand standards. Mr Sullivan paid a great tribute to Lord Wooltan who had taken the people into his confidence in a remarkable way. The people had responded to his call and had co-operated in every possible way. Mr Sullivan said he had been imipressed by the manner in which the womenfolk of the land had responded to the call and there was no lack of enthusiasm on their part. Mr Sullivan made a strong appeal to all to support in every possible way the campaign for more food for Britain. New Zealand, apart from those who had served and suffered and those Who had suffered bereavement on account of the war, hardly knew that there had been a war, said Mr Sullivan, and he appealed to them to give tangible evidence of that fact by helping England in every possible way. The speaker paid a tribute to the Red Cross Society, other organisations, and individuals who had helped and their efforts meant more than food sent for it meant that the people were prepared to do everything in their power to forge the links between the Homeland and New Zealand. Mr Sullivan closed with an eloquent tribute to the spirit of England. The wordpicture painted by the speaker had to be heard to be fully appreciated for the printed word cannot do justice to the scene as shown his hearers.

Mr A. E. Gibbons, president of the Waikato Centre of the Red Cross Society, in thanking Mr Gunn and Mr Sullivan for their eloquent addresses, said New Zealand need not fear its future when it had such men as the two speakers. Lord Woolton had accepted the leadership of the Red Cross Society and he had been nominated for a seat on U.N.O. Mr Gibbons then dealt with the Societys’ Food for Britain campaign, and in passing mentioned that since 1939 the Waikato Centre had raised £237,000, or its equivalent. Since the Food for Britain campaign had been started the Waikato Centre had raised £5OOO. The only cost involved was the purchase of the food, all other charges being met voluntarily, and there was also no charge on the English end. The food sent to England helped to vary the present diets and to give foods of high caloric value. The Red Cross Society had received many letters showing how greatly the parcels sent had been appreciated. By sending food to Britain they showed their gratitude to that country. Reference had been made in some quarters to the fact that Britain had exported certain foods, but Britain had to export goods to live. Mr Gibbons appealed for greater support for the campaign.

Mrs Downes, president of the Te Awamutu Society, thanked the padres, Mr Gibbons, the artists and members of the various sub-centres. Mrs Downes, speaking to the .latter, said they had all enjoyed working together and she thanked them for their loyal support and faithful services. After the National Anthem, supper was served and a memorable evening was brought to a close.