Newspaper Article: League of Mothers: War Service activities

EVENING STANDARD

WORLD

nette.”)

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS.

WAR SERVICE ACTIVITIES.

Interesting talks were given by Miss
C. Warburton and Mrs J. Walker at
a meeting of the Palmerston North
branch of the League of Mothers in
the Empire Hall on Thursday.
Mrs A. C. McPherson presided and
welcomed members and friends, in-
cluding Mrs Johansen, a member
transferred from the Terrace End
branch. Greetings were received from
Mrs V. Stagpoole, of Christchurch,
from Mrs H. Whittaker, who is
at present in Wanganui, and
Mrs Whitehead, who has gone to Papa-
toetoe. Songs were rendered by Mrs
Findlay (accompanied by Mrs B. F.
Barlow) and the happy thought was
read from Mrs Stagpoole’s letter by
Mrs F. Anderson. Mrs Barlow was wel-
comed as a former member.
Mrs McPherson introduced Miss
Warburton who, as chairman of the
Women’s War Service Auxiliary, ex-
plained that her organisation was ap-
pointed by the Government to co-or-
dinate women’s war services. It was
easily understood that in an emer-
gency the authorities must know
where to make contact with women
able to assist with essential services.
Therefore, every woman was asked to
register with the auxiliary. Miss
Warburton explained the various
branches in which training was given.
Wardens would shortly be required
from among women who could not
take on more energetic work. For the
transport branch it was necessary to
be physically fit, to have a current
driving license and to drive frequently.
There were first aid, canteen and child
care courses of instruction and a bi-
cycle corps. All members were required
to take the first aid course. In reply
to a question, Miss Warburton said it
was not necessary for senior members
to wear uniform or to do physical ex-
ercises, though there was a senior
class in the latter. The speaker asked
that delegates be sent to a meeting
to arrange for staffing the A.N.A.
Club at week-ends. Representatives of
the Emergency Precautions Committee
would also be present to explain their
scheme.
Miss Warburton then gave remin-
iscences of outstanding occasions in
London, beginning with Mafeking
Night and describing the pageantry
of the city in Queen Victoria’s time.
She continued with her impressions of
London in 1935 when there were num-
erous international conferences and all
the talk was of peace. The Jubilee de-
corations were alone worth the jour-
ney, and the Trooping of the Colour
was a wonderful pageant. Miss War-
burton said that the traditional cere-
monies were very dear to the British;
they were emblematic of the spiritual
and she was sure her hearers would
hope with her that they would sur-
vive and be handed on to the new
generation.
Mrs Walker, who is in charge of
the child welfare branch of the Wo-
men’s War Service Auxiliary, explain-
ed the scheme for training mothers’
helpers for an emergency. She paid
tribute to Miss M. Poole, who is in
charge of the psychology section, Miss
C. Cairns, who gives training in kin-
dergarten methods, and Miss A. M.
Kearns (Plunket nurse), who will
shortly take classes in hygiene and
diet. The duties of mothers’ helps
were not being considered only from
the domestic viewpoint, but with the
idea of equipping women to take
charge of evacuated children.
Mrs McPherson said the talks had