HITHER AND THITHER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 8

HITHER AND THITHER

I Business Girls’ Lyceum i The Y.W.C.A. Business Girls’ i Lyceum commenced its 1940 activities ‘ on Monday, April 1, with a very enjoyable “Scotch evening.” Some 50 members were present, Miss E. Graham, chairman of the Y.W.C.A. Executive Committee being the guest of honour. The president welcomed all new members, saying that by the enthusiasm already expressed it was evi- ; dent that the coming year would be a very successful one. Miss N. Sampson gave an interesting talk on Scotland, and the evening concluded with games and supper. The club night on Monday, April 8, took the form of a ; musical appreciation evening and the 40 members present thoroughly enjoyed the talk given by Mrs. D. M. Bell. Records from the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, “The Yeoman of the Guard,” added to the enjoyment of the evening. > Garden Party for Red Cross Funds I A most successful garden party was I held at “Aurara,” the home of Mr. and ;Mi's. W. Fulton, in aid of the Kaka- | tahi branch of the Red Cross Society, i The weather was perfect and everything about the garden was looking its best. The flowers and shrubs were much admired. The produce stall in charge of Mrs. Coleman and Mrs. Phillips was well patronised and various games and competitions were much enjoyed, not forgetting a delightful afternoon tea. The society benefited greatly by the endeavour.; The president, Mrs. R. W. Wallace, I called for a hearty vote of thanks for I the host and hostess and the many who had assisted. Aerial Meals Interesting details of providing! aerial meals have been given by the ex-steward of the flying-boat Aotearoa. He is Mr. S. C. Cook, of Croydon, England, victualling superintendent for Imperial Airways, who was trained at the Savoy Hotel, London. He has seen the company catering grow from the “coffee, biscuits and bee* tea.” once served on the LondonParis run, to full menus from breakfast, luncheon, and dinner. Mr. Cook reveals that everything is prepared before the plane leaves the ground and hot food is carried aboard in nuge vacuum flasks. The usual three meals a day are served in the air, and during long runs food is picked up en route from hotels. The steward has the job of calling at the hotel and planning the next day’s menu with the chef. Each plane has its own pantry and ice-box. Usually one dish is served characteristic of the country from which the food has come, but British travellers still prefer British food. Young Contingent Members Meet Members of the young contingent of the Wanganui branch of the Victoria League met on Wednesday night in the league rooms, when Mrs. A. H. Boyes, president of the Victoria League, gave a talk on her trip to Europe and the work of the Victoria League in England. Members covered books for the Wanganui Health Camp' and made hussifs for the soldiers. Six new members were received, Misses M. Ansell (?i newcomer from Wellington), M. Sanders, P. Taylor, D. Sullivan, L. Collis-Brown, and B. Campbell. Others present were Misses J. Gardiner, J. Trevithick, O. Jones, H. Laidlaw, J. Cooper, P. Drummond. B. Adams, B. Horsley, I. Mac Kay, J. O’Neill, B. Babbage, S. Gilbert, G. Simpson, L. McPhail, A. McPhail, J. Turnbull, M. Melville. J. Willis, N. O’Neill, and B. Hill. Training in Thrift Sponsored by the Ministry of Food in Great Britain, in co-operation with other Government departments, classes for housewives in wartime cookery and anti-waste methods in the kitchen were started all over Britain in the new year. These include evening Classes in cookery in schools and technical institutes, «ookery exhibitions in public halls and in the showrooms of gas and electricity undertakings, the publication or wartime recipe-books, and publicity advising housewives when plentiful supplies of particular commodities are .on the market, and how to make the best use of them. This campaign represents a further stage in the national food scheme, following the control and regulation of supplies and their distribution. I What French Women are Doing I French women are rallying to the | call of service, and the number of volunteers far exceeds the requirements. One hundred and fifty women pilots were asked for by the Government for services behind the lines and to take charge of some sections of France’s civilian aviation. The women were there. Ready at any moment to give aid to wounded men m inaccessible territory, is a corps of ' more than 200 parachutist Red Cross nurses. Then there’s a corps of 500 women cyclists organised to act as messengers for the municipal authorities. The Red Cross of France has sent nurses to the military hospitals and there are two on every hospital train. It has organised canteens at all the principle stations where women at all hours give food and drink to troops passing through. Other services rendered by women Include the supervision and welfare of evacuated j women and children, the giving of lec- • tures to the civilian population on tne j method of putting on gasmasks, how ■ to protect food and water from gas | contamination, and to help and guide : civilians to take cover in case of an air-raid alarm. They are driving buses and ambulances. During the autumn they helped gather in the harvest. Women chemists have been mobilised on a military footing. Some, replacing men called to the colours, keep open the pharmacies in towns and villages and others are working in chemical laboratories.