![\"The](\"https:\/\/blogs.otago.ac.nz\/thehockenblog\/files\/2014\/06\/The-Mail-Minor.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Mail Minor, Oamaru, September 13 1940, v.2:no.37, p.1<\/b><\/p>\n
While working on a project for the Hocken Collections in 2010, my colleague and I came across a delightful supplement to the Oamaru Mail that ran from 1939 to 1942 called: The Mail Minor: for the young folk. It was created by W.R.F. Naylor who refers to himself as \u201cMajor\u201d in his editorials.\u00a0 It began with v.1:no.1 (1939 February 3) and ceased with v.4:no.30 (1942 July 24).<\/p>\n
The Mail Minor is not your ordinary children\u2019s publication, while it contains plenty of jokes and puzzles like you would expect, it also touches on current events occuring in Oamaru and throughout the world during that period. The back page of each issue has a special feature on a different topic which include titles like: \u201cWell known dogs of the day\u201d, \u201cThe centenary of the Bicycle\u201d, \u201cThe Romance of Rubber\u201d and \u201cWhat\u2019s in a Peanut\u201d.<\/p>\n
Major converses with children like adults in his editorials and doesn\u2019t shy away from discussing the harsh reality of what children have to face during war time. WWII updates are scattered throughout, and some of the special features such as: \u201cHow Warships are Classified\u201d and \u201cThe Swastika Through the Ages\u201d seek to further children\u2019s knowledge about the war. Major encourages children to help out the war effort in any way that they can. He suggests that boys could assist the war effort by joining a scheme to help on farms and girls could knit for the armed forces (v.2:no.49 1940 December 6).<\/p>\n
Major welcomes children\u2019s contributions\u00a0 to The Mail Minor, these original contributions are excellent and showcase what it was like for a child to live in southern New Zealand during WWII. In v.2:no.37 (1940 September\u00a0 13) Gwendoline Goodall ( 11 years of age) shares her poem. Here is the first verse:<\/p>\n
The War of 1940<\/p>\n
Twenty-two years have passed in vain<\/p>\n
Since the last great war was slain<\/p>\n
Nineteen-forty now is the year<\/p>\n
And war again is raging, hear<\/p>\n
All along the battle line<\/p>\n
Are anxious men awaiting the time<\/p>\n
For the bloodthirsty cry to begin<\/p>\n
The Mail Minor was not just enjoyed by the children of Oamaru. In v.3:no.33 (1941 August 15) Major writes: \u201dIt was a pleasure to hear from Egypt this week that several Oamaru soldiers were greatly interested in the Minor containing the South School page. No fewer than ten of them were members of the school band featured in that issue.\u201d<\/p>\n
In v.4:no.30 (1942 July 24) the final issue, Major leaves his devoted readers a heartfelt farewell along with a photograph of the man himself. \u201cYoung and old read the Minor- public men have quoted it. Schools in both the North and South Islands have used it in their classroom, and writers and authors\u00a0have expressed their admiration of it\u2019s appeal and lay-out. It was my gift to the Oamaru Mail and to you \u2013 I enjoyed it, they enjoyed it and you enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n