"FRIENDS OF GIBRALTAR" Interest in Evacuees

Considerable attention attaches to our article of a fortnight ago entitled: "12,500 Gibraltar evacuees: Complaints in London, Satisfaction itt Jamaica." Responsible authorities have now initiated enquiries into the evacuees' complaints, and as the result of the efforts of certain ladies in London an organisation . is being launched called " The Friends of Gibraltar Society." It will interest itself in the welfare of the evacuees. Catholics are appealed to to join.
One of the purposes of the article, it may he stated, was to draw the attention of Catholics to the plight of the evacuees in so far as they have been socially abandoned. For one whole year they have lived separate existences in various centres in. London, thus the new society should do a lot to help them to form friendships with the outside world.
The new society's objects are: —
(1). To promote friendly feelings between Londoners and the Gibraltarians.
(2). To provide suitable entertainments and amusements for the evacuees away from their centres.
(3). To take a general interest in them and to establish suitable contacts.
(4). To encourage the use of English (more especially among the older evacuees) by means of talks, songs, etc.
(5). To invite then, to existing clubs.
(6). To co-operate with any other society interested in the same aims.
The aims were outlined by the Mayor of Kensington at the inaugural meeting of the society in the Kensington Town Hall on Monday.
This meeting was an overflow one, so much so, that it was found necessary to transfer it to the Petty Session court-room of the town hall.
" The idea originated with Catholic ladies," said the Mayor, ".and although it is at present confined to the Borough of Kensington, the founders and I hope that the Friends of Gibraltar will catch on in the other boroughs of London."
The Catholic interest in the new society was evidenced by the presence at the meeting of five Catholic priests, who included Fr. Munster, Superior of the London Oratory, and Fr. Azzopardi, of Gibraltar. The Mayor of Kensington, who was elected the first president of the society, thought that two members of the clergy ought to be invited on to the committee. This suggestion was adopted. The minimum subscription for membership is half-a-crown.