Family History 1.116

Family History: NSG Memoir

During the Depression

 

 

Connie continued with her nursing career, eventually becoming Matron of Wellington Hospital. She never forgot Noel.

Within a few months of all these significant family events, the Wall Street Crash occurred. Fortunately Fred had invested his earnings wisely and he was secure throughout the Depression years.  But Noel had a hard time of it, struggling to earn enough to keep himself, let alone a family, before things began to improve toward the end of the thirties.  

Fred and Julia threw themselves into the work of their church, and other charitable activities, and into keeping in touch with their extended family.  In 1931 Fred was elected president of the Baptist Union of New Zealand.  His Presidential address, “A New Zealander’s Free Church”, outlined the arguments for the existence of democratically governed congregations, for the principles underlying the “free, secular and compulsory” nature of New Zealand education, and for the fact that New Zealand had no “established” religion. 

One of Fred’s special interests for the church was the need for a Theological College to train ministers. During the thirties he was part of a group of church people working towards the establishment of a Baptist Theological College in New Zealand. 

Often during these years Noel’s income was less than one pound in a week.  He had a constant stream of men coming up the stairs asking for a handout.  He helped all he could by giving them a voucher for a meal at the YMCA canteen.  Noel was a committee member of the Young Mens Christian Association at this stage. He was also instrumental in starting a social group for his mates at the church: Baptist Young Men of Auckland, or the BYMOA Club. The membership included Henry Massam, Royston Brown, Harry Jones, Roy Thompson, and Reg Barker. 

The turning point in the success of the law business came when a colleague retired and passed over several accounts to the struggling young lawyer, and then a few months later, a colleague in the office one floor below, who had co-operated with Noel from time to time, died and left the whole of his business to Mr Gaze.  Not only did Noel acquire several good clients, he was also able to move down to the first floor and thus be twice as handy to Queen Street.