LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2652, 24 December 1915, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CHRISTMAS DINNER FOR THE POOR. = Sir,—l thank you and the Press generally for space granted some time ago _ when asking for donations towards a fund for providing dinners to London poor and Belgian refugees on Christmas Day. As a result I have been enabled to cable £60 to reach the Headquarters of the Church Army in timo to unite K tlio large number of those who-will partake of New Zealand hospitality on that day. Donations were sent from Auckland, AVellington, Napier, and intermediate towns, Sunday schools, and Stato schools contributing their pennies. The Church Army is also endeavouring to send more- and more parcels to British prisoners in Germany. We learn on good authority that their food is scanty. The poor fellows appreciate any little gift reminding them of homo. Four months ago (being the last report from Head- _ quarters) 22,000 parcels had been sent by the Church Array to prisoners of war in Germany. Several thousand aro being dispatched this Christmas and we ' liopo to keep up the supply continually. T| The cost is 3s. each. Every parcel con- J tains, among other comforts, a pudding, h costing Is. 1-1 d. An Indian soldier, in- C terned at Ruhleben; having received one of these parcels, thus writes to the sec- " reta-ry of the Prisonors' Gift Depart- 1 ment:— J "My master of noble character, tlio a honoured Mr. Paynter, I havo received ® at this time your most generous gift. For your goodness may God reward you, and may the nightingale of affection contiriuo .to sing in the garden of your house by His grace and mercy. He who - prays. ■ (Signed)_ A S . j Any contributions for the 3s. parcel fund for prisoners of war in Germany fl rstoived and forwarded by the secretary e as undersigned, the Church Army sees c to the delivery of these parcels. They c have their own officers at all fronts and t thus savo both time and expense. —I < am, etc., ; J F. W. WHIBLEY. 1 f ' Hon. Sec., Church Army. j The Vicarage, Weber. ' j