Page 449 - Reading Mercury

Potter, of H.M.S. Liverpool, has recently died of enteric, and one was lost in H.M.S.
Hampshire. Percy Potter, another son, who was badly wounded, is still in hospital.

CONCERT
The staff at Miss Baker’s (Grosvenor House School) gave an excellent concert in
the Schoolroom on Wednesday afternoon, in aid of huts for women munition workers.
Several of the scholars assisted, and the room was crowded. The various items on the
programme were well sustained, and all those taking part are to be highly commended
for the performance. A sum of £3 will be handed over to the fund.

NATIONAL SERVICE
A public meeting, presided over by the Mayor, was held in the Town Hall on
Thursday evening. The speaker was Mr. J. Farnworth, representing the headquarters
of the movement. There was a good attendance. The speaker said there were two
questions every citizen must ask himself in connection with the scheme of National
Service. The first was, what is my individual responsibility to the State in times of
national danger? And the second was, what is the State’s relationship to me in time of
national danger? He proceeded to drive home very forcibly the necessity for all to do
their utmost in the interests of the State. The National Service movement was entirely
a new and direct appeal for service, and was made principally to the middle-aged man
who stood outside the fighting age. There was no excuse for such men to hold back,
and the appeal was as direct as that made to the young men to go to the recruiting
station. It was made to all such men to enrol and it was pleasing to note the Church of
England had set an example by releasing the clergy, and the same applied to the
Nonconformist ministry. If all followed the example there would be a magnificent
response to the appeal, and he urged all present to take the matter to heart. Every
worker was wanted, and if enrolled there would be the opportunity of appeal to
determine in what capacity he would be best serving the State. Agriculture and other
essential occupations would naturally be assisted; but if he were asked “Should such
workers enrol?” his reply was “Yes.” It was an enormous task we had in hand, and
one in which all could do his or her part.

th
Sat 14 April
DISTRIBUTION OF POTATOES
By permission of the Mayor the surveyor (Mr. Marks) was able to arrange on
Thursday last week for the distribution of a large proportion of the seed potatoes
ordered by residents through the County Council. In view of the holiday season the
distributing was most opportune, and the purchasers who were fortunate enough to
receive the potatoes were very grateful for the arrangements made to have them
delivered.
During Mr. Salmon’s absence on military service, Mr. D.M. Stevenson has been
appointed by the Ministry of Labour as local agent for Unemployment Insurance and
Employment Exchange work. Mr. Stevenson has already considerable experience in
such work, having acted as deputy to the local agent for some time past. The address
of the local office will be Denton Chambers, The Terrace, Wokingham.

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