FINE WORK OF LADY GALWAY GUILD

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 4

FINE WORK OF LADY GALWAY GUILD

LADY FREYBERG'S LETTER A letter has been received by the Levin branch of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild from Lady Freyberg, congratulating the movement on its work in helping the people „in distress on the Continent. The letter reads as follows: "I am writing to you after attending my first meeting of the executive committee of the Lady Galway Guild, of which I was asked to take over the presidency as wife of the Governor-General. Before the meeting I looked through the minutes of previous committees, and also some of the recent correspondence ' with the W.V.S. in London, who, as you know, has done the distribution of the garments which have been sent by the guild. I feel I must let you know that I am really astonished by the very large number of garments which has been collected, cleaned and renovated, and forwarded, and I want to ask you to express to your workers my warm admiration for their very fine contribution to the war effort. I am full of admiration at what has been done— at the generous response in the gift of the large numbers of garments — it seems almost ineredible, but I am informed that the total number is over 6,000,000 — at the loyal and patient work in sorting, cleaning, altering and prepar'ing the gifted clothes for distribution, and in packing and despatching them. Thq value of the work of the guild from the financial side is very great, but it is equally great from the point of view of a gesture of sympathy from the women of New Zealand to the stricken homes of the United Kingdom, and also of the European countries to whom your garments have been sent. "It is hardly necessary to say that these clothes have been of inestimable value in the homes to which they have been given — innocent homes devastated by the cruel hand of war. These clothes of yours will have brought them new hope and faith in life, as well as the actual warmth which was so needed. , , "I know from the personal observation of having seen the distribution of your clothes in England by the W.V.S., what comfort your generous gifts have brought to the bombed out families, the refugees and others in distress. The personal touches and many of the little messages and especially the thoughts for the-. children, have meant so much to the mothers, when life has been dangerous and difficult. , "All the recent acknowledgments of cases by the W.V.S. have been most grateful and enthusiastic, and as I begin to grasp the total of your work I also feel full of enthusiasm and very proud of what you and your members have done. "The question of the future of the guild is at present receiving consideration, and you will be advised of the position as soon as possible."