OUR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 3

OUR SOLDIERS

.WHAT TO MAKE FOR THEM.

who have been working for the equipment of tho Expeditionary forces may find tho following letter, received from a correspondent, and tho statements of the Mayoress in replv to wis request for information and guidance, of some considerable help to them intiicir own efforts for the troops :-r- -.' _ ' May we ask tho committee of the Countess of Liverpool Fund kindly to m»ke a pub.Kc statement in your columns as to whether the list of contributions to that fund is now closed? fcople in various parts of the country have continued to make shirts, Balaclavas, mittens, etc., but they have all expressed a wish that public notice should be given whenever the required amount of,any item has been reached, and what further is needed. " Also a definite statement as to what will- become of tho surplus already existing. Is it not correct that this has been placed m reserve for the equipment of supplementary troops? Or will any'of the things left over or now in making bo included in tho Belgian supply? There is «. general understanding, of course, that the provision for our own troops rt now practically finished, and that Lord Kitchener's request makes a first claiin.on our labour, and already the knitting of socks and cholera-belts for Quesn Moiy's Fund is in progress. But there aro many ready and eager to help who are unable to do so without exact directions. We want details, and would be grateful if you would publish answers to the following questions as soon as nrocurable." With regard, first, to the cholerabelt*. What wool should be used, what noedl«3,' how many stitches cast on, and how many rows to be knitted? How to make the decrease at each end as with the woven ones ? Should tho first few rows and the last few bo put on much finer needlot for this purpose? [With a Ba,laclar», to do so for the last 6 or 8 rows (Dominion pattern) helps to draw in tho cap round the faco.] Also, in the country time has been lost in trying to procure the right materials locally, especially in wools. (By the way, is not Sootch fingering for socks far more durable than the soft New Zealand kind?) Kindly give the names and addresses of firms known to have asupply of what should be used. Again, the. nam« and addresses are wanted of anyone who has n knitting machine and who takes in work, prices, etc." The Mayoress in reply to the inquiries made by the writer of the above lettei states that contributions to the Countess of Liverpool Fund .in the way of socks and 'shirts for the Main Expeditionary Force are still being_ accepted, as it has been decided to equip the men wjith threo pairs of socks each instead of two, as well as an extra shirt each. Notification will be given when the required number of artioleg bus been reached.- The Wellington Committee is to be the receiver of contributions for the whole of the Supplementary Force, and everything' ehould be addressed to "Her Exoellonoy the Countess of Liverpool, care,of the Mayoress of Wellington, Town Hall." Tho surplus of goods has been plnoed in reserve for 'tie Supplementary Force ,and it is not intended to include/any of it in the Belgian Fund. ;Iri regard to Lord Kitchener's-request for/the troops in Europe, the Mayoress Btatea that Her Excellency haa'cabled to England to know if woven or thiok flannel cholera-belts would be as good an the knitted belts, and as soon as ah answer has been received notification will be made in tho Press..The Mayoress further states that she has a contract for purchasing excellent knitted sooka at 12s. ]6d. a dozen, and she would bo very pleased to receive orders for them. Samples, would be sent en approval if wished for. In addition sh» is ready to forward samples of wool for knitting., purpooes, and khiki wool may bo pur- 1 ob»eed from the committee for the Balaclavas, aa it has been , thought better to have them a» much'. A3 possible all one uniform colour. Three-ply Whelling is' the kind which has been found to .be, most uerrioeable. A considerable amount of .time and labour may also be saved by applying to tho Wellington Committee (the , Mayoress) for, out-out' ehirts, which aTe ready for sewing together. Theywill be railed free of charge. Further information will be given later re knitting 'machines.