WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2584, 5 October 1915, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Continued from Page. 2.)

WOMEN'S WORK FOR THE SOLDIERS

COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL FUND

The' report of the Wellington branch ofstho Countess of Liverpool Fund for tho year ending August 4, 1915, is a '.Very-'interesting.'dooumenc, and presents in 'broad..outline,':,the work which' 'has -been accomplished for the Now Zealand .soldiers.., It is as well to emphasise the fact that it is only a broad outline- as 'necessarily it: could not give in-detail allthe time, the work, the constant, supervising _ and organisation that have been exercised in keeping our soldiers supplied with necessities and comforts, and in trying to anticipate what was N 'likely to be needed for immediate 'and for future :need._ It is only when one is a frequent visitor to the- Town- Hall, which ia tlie_ centre for the organisation and the ,activities that have arisen' from, it, that any realistic •idea can bo gathered of all that women have done since the war began.

The report is as follows:— v "In answer to. the appeal made by Her Excellency tho Countess of . Liverpool, we. formed in Wellington, a committee known as tho 'Countess of livorpool Fund, Wellington Branch,' having for our/object the provision of equipment' and comforts for the Expeditionary Force on leaving. New Zealand. The public responded most generously, enabling , us to' . supply - the advance force, the Main Expeditionary Force, and the Ist and 2nd Reinforceni'ents with flannel shirts, under-vests, underpants, . .socks,, jerseys,' hold-alls, housewives, cholera - belts, and balaclavas./In order, to carry out . this' 1 work we. ;'seiit ' through'-, the - Defence Department, thefollowing :—Shirts, undervests, pants, socks, jerseys, hold-alls, ; house-, wives; cholcra belts, balaclavas, towels, blankets, ward shirts, rugs, -pyjamas, gloves, and mittens.- - Provision by the Way. "We also placed on board every troopship up to and - including the 3rd Reinforcements;- a sufficient supply of socks to give every soldier, an. extra pair on landing. .- This amounted to .8900 pairs for the Main Expeditionary Force. Gramophones and records have, been placed on every, troopship, one gramophone, for; every .300 -men,- and' a large quantity ;of :-.cake(solb.; for every> 100 men), and many cases of fruit.., Christchurch. ,has given material assistance, with regard to cake and- fruit. _ [ Field Ambulance. "The work of equipment for the four "centres was '"all-' done here,' and 'was carefully packcd in 26 panniers.'' In addition to, these, several cases of medi-cal-comforts -wore generously supplied :by the. Victoria League, y, The, bulk; of tho expense was borne by Her Excel-lency's'.-Executive' - from -, General Fund. In connection with' this, -it , is. [Satisfactory to-know that Sir Alexander Godley and- the medical . officers .have written; expressing their gratitude' and appreciation. .' ■. •"This ; committee . also, sent the following -equipment.' to every' man at tho forts.:—l Jersey,' ,1 shirt,. 1 pair- socks; 1 towel, 1 also a largo number of denim overalls, balaclavas, and housewives, and from time to time they were sent cake, ..fruit, .'and and extra comforts for Christmas. . The Christmas Activities. ■ "overri6oo : parcels .were ' sent to Samoa,' 800 of. those': being :, sent in., in answer, to an -.appeal, and the balance was:;'sent- •TOmmittee, so that every man : received: a parcel specially addressed.t These parcels contained various, Christmas 'delicacies, and \vere all taken fre,e of cost by-1 the Union . Steam Ship Company,,.which was no .liojht: undertaking. as they measured 25 tons..' An appeal ;Was made for Christmas dinner for Trenthara, and a. generous: reI' sponse enabled us -to supply'' a . good Christmas dinner, consisting of beef, lamb, pork, hams, poultry, sacks of peas, and . other -vegetables, pluni puddings, jellies,', sweets; trifles, fruit, salads,' and fruit; non-alcoholic drinks, tobacco, and cigarettes. The committee and others went;, aiyd'assisted to serve the dinner.' - It was tho men's last Saturday on, shore and no effort was spared to make it. a happy remembrance. The sick soldiers .were also visited and given pipes;,'tobacco,', and fountain pens. 1 : as Christmas presents. ■'■ "53i0 men of the Maori Contingent on leaving ' Wellington o were... each, supplied with' a - parcel containing '1 towel, .2 vests; 2 .pants, .2 pair socks, 1 housewife.' Gramophones and records'were also: put on- board, also 1 odd - jerseys, ,eighty-nineJn.number. :

. Reservists' Wives. "Every Reservist in 'the ■ Wellington '/Kv •' •' ■" ■.'"

military_area lias been written to, numbering 53, and overy caso that has replied lias been, carefully looked into, and with tlio assistancb of tlio Mayor's Patriotic Committee relief has been giveii_ where needed. Clothing has been supplied in "many cases, and every effort mado to alleviato any anxiety caused by the absence of the breadwinner. Gratoful letters wore received •from many -Reservists, who at present do not require assistance, as well as from thoso who have been helped." Balaclavas, Socks, Etc. . "Sinco February wo have received 5584 balaclavas/ and as fast as they camo in ■tliey. wero. sent .to the camp; we liavo a few in hand now. In April this com-mittee;-,packed ' «nd. addressed individually a-parcel to every man of tlio .Wellington niilitary district, numbering 3500,: containing two pairs socks, one cake soap, ono pencil, and one handkerchief. These were sent to tho troops .in .Egypt by tho 4th Reinforcements. Then, m response to Her Excellency the _ Countess of Liverpool's appeal we again provided 7480 pairs of socks for our Wellington district men. Her Excellencymaking up our. number to 8500, made a total of 15,500. We have also sent during-the last month over 2000 pairs socks to the various camps. Wo oould not possibly have given so many socks if we had not had the most generoua .assistance . from the women of tho Wellington.military district; in fact, they have always been most loyal to this fund, and wo have never made an appeal in, vain. The Children's Work : "In May • a public i schoo 1 children's gift scheme was initiated. The children were asked: to subscribe..2d., and fill in a label which , was affixed to a .pocket book,' , and, pencil, 'sent to the soldiers of. tlie -Wellington:, military district serving at .the front. -A-public- school sweet fund was. also inaugurated, the. labels being wrapped round the tins. -Both schemes' were .wonderfully success-: ful, 203 schools.subscribed;'sooo pocket books were sent, and'six tons of sweets. A few... labels over .w.ere-..put in . the socks parcels sent by this. committee, 'bo,no subscriber:.was unrepresented. Caring For the Sailors. ■ . ''Our. sailors,: too,-have not been forgotten, a harmonium donated by Mr. -Brookes,'-, of;'the' Bristol. Piano Company, and a: gramophone and records, pre- ' sentcd by Mrs. Moorhouse, being' sent to H. 31.5. Philomel. ■ H.SI.S. Pyramus' •had a harmonium given by tho Rev. Mr. Blackburne, and 'a gramophone by ■Viscountess Kelburn.I 'Sinpe Ave have acted independently we have, received up to August 4 tho -following articles: —639o pairs socks, 5584 balaclavas,' 317 mufflers, 102 cholera belts, and a large number of other articles. • '

:' ■ Tlio report does not mention the activities .that have _' since sprung • from, the Countess of Liverpool Fund, such as the' Citizens' Military Hospital Guild, the Leather Waistcoat . Fund, and the Soldiers' Comforts Depot.- TEe Leather: Waistcoat Fund has- provided waistcoats for ;fiooo • men, : and it is hop-ed:,to;-continue.,the supply for ilie men who will be leading Now Zealand at a later date. The- outlying towns and districts .of-, the .Wellington.: military area responded in a most ;enthusiastic .manner, to the appeal that was: made for their assistance in fulfilling the Wellington quota, and in most cases they 'were, personally made by all who volunteered to do tho.work. . :