'XMAS AT THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2868, 5 September 1916, Page 3

'XMAS AT THE FRONT

GIFTS FOR OUR SOLDIERS. The Associated Amateur Sports Committee met at the Town Hall to consider the quostion of raising additional funds to provide Christmas gifts for New Zealand soldiers at the front. Mr. C. G. Wilson presided. . Mrs. J. P. Duke (the Mayoress) said the movement which she had Inaugurated in the Wellington district for raising fund's for Christmas gifts was really a national'one. Each district bad been asked to contribute 7000 packages of suitable gifts for the men at tho front.

Mr. A. D. Bayfield moved that the sum of £400 in hand from last year should be expended immediately on suitable gifts for the troops in Egypt. Mr. Hill seconded the motion.

Mr.' A. A. Marryatt urged that a ca.se had not been made out for applying the money solely, for tho purooso of the troops in Egypt. It would be better to uso it towards providing a small nucleus for each district to start a new fund. They ought to be ablo to raise, £1000 in Wellington for tho

purpose. Mr. R. W. Shallorass moved: "That tho funds in hand be distributed pro rata to each contributing district tor the purpose of forming a nucleus to tho fund proposed to be raised this year for Now Zealand.soldiers." •

i This was seconded by Mr. Barry Koesing, and carried by nine votes to three.

•A report by the sub-committee recommended +,liat the various sports bodies should assist in raising funds by direct appeal to the public, and that a fete be held on October 7 in tho Basin. Reserve, in aid of a fund to bo known as the Citizens' Christmas Gift Fund.

. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) suggested that an appeal should be sent to the Mayoress, the Mayor, and tho secretary of the amateur sports committee. He would be very glad to be associated with the sports committee. It was the due of every soldier to get a present. The report was adopted. On the motion of Mr. Marryatt, It was agreed that those present should form 1 a committee of Wellington sports bodies, with power to add to their number. .;•. _

A letter was read from Mr. H. Amos, regretting that owing to many members of his staff having gone to the front he would be obliged to resign the position of secretary. The resignation was accepted with regret, and it was resolved to forward' Mr. Amos the thanks of the committee for his valuable work in the past. Mr. El W. Shallcra-ss wa© elected hon. secretary, and Mr. C. G. Wilson wa.s re-elected chairman.

On the motion of Mr._ Marryatt, >it was hooded that subscriptions be invited, to be to tho Mayor, the Mayoress, the chairman, and tho secretary. The chairman, and, Messrs. Atkins and Carr were appointed a subcommittee to draw up and distribute the appeal. : The - following sub-committees were appointed:—Fete, Messrs. Hill, Davis, and Guise; sale of flowers and badges, Messrs.' Watkins, Keesing,. and Bayfield ; interviewing Messrs. Auln, Gibb, and Marryatt.

A correspondent writes a letter of interest'to ladies-.—"l have been using Desert Gold Tea for the last twelve months, and find it the best tea I have ever tasted. I have told all my friends, and they are buying.it now."—Advt. Wedding- Announcement. — Beautiful roses and the choicest of flowers only are used when designing wedding- bouquets, which I make a speciality of. Packed and forwarded .through the Dominion. Miss Murray, Vice-Regal Florist, 86 Willis Street.—Advt. ' .