CITIZENS' CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 15, 12 October 1918, Page 8

CITIZENS' CHRISTMAS GIFT FUND

BIG APPEAL TO BE MADE.

M>\ A. Marryatt presided at the meeting of the Citizens' Gift Fund Committee,, held last evening. The work of this committee really goes on throuj|hout the year, but it is about this timo when the public is reminded of its obligations .to thoso who are doing and daring at the front. In the annual statement of work read by the secretary (Mrs. Barltrop) it was stated that during the year 312 cases,' containing 17,685 parcels, were packed for general distribution. Many of these .contained, beside other things, a pound of Christmas pudding. A baud of from 30 to 35 ladies journeyed toNgahaurangai for threo weeks on end to make the pudding. The cooking and tinning were done, at the' Wellington Meat Export Company's works, and the.'ladies' committeo' \vas deeply grateful to Mr. Longman.for the aid ho gave. The gifts forwarded consisted of meat,"condensed milk, sweets, butter, _ biscuits, cake, cocoa, 'salmon, sardines, raisins, socks, shirts,' undervests, brushes, handkerchiefs, towels, etc., for the absent ones. The departing troops were not, however, forgotten, _ _ for ,on each transport carrying men a chaplain's box was placed on board. It was so called because it was put under the chaplain's care for •distribution. These boxes were,. roughly, of the value of £35, and contained comforts ,of a homely character useful for those who were "off colour" through sea-sickness, light ill-, uesses, and sometimes, perhaps, a feeling of home sickness. Nineteen cases of 41b. Christmas puddings— 18241b. in all—were pent for distribution among the New Zealand hospitals, four in England and two in' France. Two large cases of foodstuffs, such r,s Glaxo, Mellin's, food, malted milk, and tinned fruits, were forwarded to England for use in the New Zealand Soldiers' Club, in Russell Square, London. Those were gifts to the president (Mrs. Luke). Three dozen cakes (351b. each) wero also forwarded to the Navy League for the Patrol Section. Chaplain Green ■ kindly attended to the distribution of all gift cases sent to England, and from a letter received from-MrYF. Waldegrave it was known that he^ performed bis, task nobly nhd well. The Samoan garrison were provided with Christmas and Easter parcels, and as thoso gifts go less frequently than to the ngnting areas, the parcels were made larger and suitable to; the requirements of the • men. Within a few days thoy would be busy preparing for those men' once 'more. The report also made reference to the fine work and kindly leadership of .the president (Mrs. Luke). The report was adoptefl. The committee decided to 'epeat what was so successfully done last vear to raise funds. That was by direct appeal (sports sfjalls in the streets) on November 29, and a big sports gathering on the Basin Reserve on November 30, to which end sub-committees would at once get to work. A big art union i3_ also to be conducted in connection with this year's, appeal.