SOLDIERS' CHRISTMAS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2640, 10 December 1915, Page 6

SOLDIERS' CHRISTMAS

DINNER IN THE CAMPS MONEY AND MATERIAL WANTED *• Details in connection with the scheme for the providing of. Christmas cheer for the soldiors in camp were settled yesterday. The Mayor, Mr. J. P. Luke, Mr 3., Luke, and Mrs. W. Nathan conferred at Trentham with tho Camp Commandant, Colonel H. It. Potter, with tho result thai about COOO men will bo provided for at Christmas. The Christmas dinner proper is to be given at Trentham and May Morn 'at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 23, this date being decided upon as being one which best suited the military arrangements of the camps. ■•.. A Generous Repast; . : .The iiical is to consist of lamb and other meats, 'green peas, potatoes, aud other delicacies, and' it will be cooked' in the camp cook-houses. Thero will be about 2200 men of the - Eleventh Reinforcements at 'May, Morn, while at Trentham there will be 3600 men, including the Ninth Reinforcements. To cater for these at least 350 lambs, 6000 lbs. of potatoes, and several tons of green peas will bo required. The number of Christmas puddings, too, will b? prodigious, as well as tho quantities of dried fruits and material for salads. At Trentham the food will be served by volunteer lady waitresses in the hutments, which number 67; and at May Morn, which, is'a tent camp, tables wiil be sent up, and used in large marquees. In. addition to the food supplies, plenty of cigars and cigarettes are to be available. Altogether the effort will be one which will carry. out the goodwill and hospitality of the people, of Now Zealand, and make the men feel at home. Money and Material Wanted, " The_ Mayoress will be supported by a . committee of ladies and helpers, including* ladies of the committees of the Liv- ; erpool Fund and Hospital Guild, and offers have already been received by Mrs: Luke of' further assistance. No misgivings are felt on this score. But citizens are reminded that the opportunity to give freely of money and material is now before them, and the Mayor looks to them with confidence to give a _ hearty response. The proceedings will not end with the' dinner in camp , on Thursday. ■ On Christmas Day general leavq will be given to all the men' in camp. ; The City Council, at'the request of the Mayor, has decided to throw .the Town Hall open during the J whole of that day. ■ Cold luncheon will be provided for the soldiers, also tea. | in tho evening. The Mayor considers that, this step, will provide a useful rendezvous, or rallying place, for those men who have no homes in Wellington, nd the soldiers may rest assured that the hospitality provided will' be of the homely kind. It will be a free and easy meeting-place, with well stocked tables at hand. To make it so, and meet the heavy calls which catering for 6000 men entails, the* Mayor looks to the generosity Of the citizens of Wellington or of any other community ; which feels that it would like to share tile, pleasure of providing Christmas cheer for the soldiers.