N.Z. ADMIRED

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXXII, Issue 8904, 21 April 1943, Page 2

N.Z. ADMIRED

WORK OF LAST TWO YEARS MESSAGES FROM ENGLAND ACTIVITIES OF THE RED CROSS The following message to New Zealand expressing appreciation and admired of the way in j which the Dominion has faced up to the last two years has been received by tht Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Red Cross Society from the Dowager Marchioness of Reading, D.8.E., chairman of the Women’s Voluntary Services Civil Defence in England. At the request of the Waihi Red Cross Society we reproduce the letter as under:—

“Dear Mr Galloway,—l feel I cannot let 1942 draw to a close without writing to tell you how much we admire the way in which New Zealand has faced the past year. In many ways our two islands are very similar and in none more so than the indomitable courage of the ordinary people in time of emergency. The fact that the time of emergency here is getting rather long drawn is. of course, showing in a certain strain on people’s faces—but the whole tempo of life has increased so that the Americans returning here find it difficult to reconcile us with the casual strolling British they knew before.

“At lunchtime girls in offices have to do their household shopping—a very complicated business these days —and in the evening you see them hurrying home to cook their evening meal before going on duty as an air raid warden or a fire watcher.

“All men up to the age of 60 and all women up to the age of 45, unless they are already doing night work at least one week in four or are in the Forces, have to lire watch and be on duty a minimum of 48 hours every month. Even if no bombs are dropped it means that if there is an ‘alert’ these lire watchers have to be up and dressed and ready lest the Tluns decide to drop incendaries in their neighbourhood. So they have got used to being constantly on the alert themselves.

“The very high morale existing in Britain to-day is due in no small measure to the wonderful support we are receiving from the Empire. While the workers here have been working at top pressure to produce the armaments so badly needed both by ourselves and Russia, the knowledge that gifts of clothing are being sent over to supply their needs should they or their families be bombed has been behind them. Soldiers fighting at Tobruk —or prisoners in Singapore—know that their families at home are being helped through the generosity of just such organisations as the New Zealand Red Cross.

“I know that all members of the W.V.S. join me in sending the very best wishes for Christmas and the coming year to all your many members and in the hope that 1943 will take us all a long way towards the ultimate victory and peace for which we ars so completely united in working.”