PATEA WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 287, 5 December 1939, Page 10

PATEA WOMEN’S INSTITUTE

Mrs. A. Carey (president) welcomed members and visitors, especially Miss Anderson, president of lhe Hokianga Federation, to the final meeting of the Patea W.l. for the year, and new members. Mrs. Brunton, Mrs. Harding and Miss Stevens. Sympathy was expressed with Mrs. King and relatives of Mrs. Smith, federation executive members. The Tourist Accommodation Bureau wrote asking members to be advised that it would arrange accommodation for members inter/ling to visit the Exhibition. Resignations from Mrs. T. Nelson and Mrs. R. Clarke were received with regret. The Kaponga W.L expressed thanks for hospitality extended at the recent federation meeting. An invitation was received for the Ohangai Maori birthday on December It was decided to recommend the federation that the proposed combined picnic be held at Patea on February 10, 1940. Members were asked to support the Red Cross card evening to raise funds for the boys who were going overseas. Members were notified that there would be no meeting in January. Mrs. A. Carey gave a brief description of the Exhibition and the W.L conference. Miss Agnes Kuhfuss, recently returned from England and the Continent, spoke on her impressions during her travels. In England, she said, it was most noticeable that there were no verandahs on the shops. They attended the military tattoo at Aidershot, which was marvellous. In England and France air raid shelters were being dug in all the parks and in many private homes just outside London. On the Continent, she said, the most fashionable women were dressed in black. All towns had markets where strawberries and cherries were very cheap. The only flowers to be seen were lilac bushes. France, Switzerland and Germany were much better cultivated than New Zealand, right up to the railways and roads. There was very little home life, everyone going out to casinos and cafes, and it -was most noticeable that no women wore evening frocks. She was amused at the bread, which was in roles about a yard long and carried home without paper. In France mailmen, bakers, etc., worked on Sundays and football matches were held. Tea was 10s a pound in Germany. In Switzerland she noticed that all the nursemaids wore uniform. She loved Venice and visited one cafe which had not been closed for 200 years. In June in Venice they were practising air raid precautions. She felt the German people did not want war as they suffered so much in the last one, but everything was cultivated. War was declared when they had arrived at Aden on return to New Zealand, and when they reached Bombay the ship left them there. There were about 100 stranded, including 25 New Zealanders, and it was a fortnight before another ship was available. Tn Bombay only about 12 per cent, of the natives got two meals a day, the others living on a little corn. Many of them had no homes but just slept in the open. The Toe H Club was very good to them in Bombay. For the rest of the journey home the ship was blacked out at night and they slept on deck with lifebelts on. The president thanked Miss Kurfuss for her interesting talk. Hostesses were Mesdames L. Honeyfield, C. S. Martin, J. Boyle, Misses Lavery. Competitions resulted:—Best bloom: Mrs. L. Honeyfield 1. Mrs. Mercer 2, Mrs. L. Adams 3. Nut loaf: Mrs. Martin 1. Thrift article: Mrs. Martin 1 and 2, Miss Willcocks 3. Apologies were received from Mesdames E. F. Hemingway, G. Corbett ai— Miss K. Lavery. Seasonal greetings were reciprocated between the president and members.