PATRIOTIC WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24420, 4 October 1940, Page 9

PATRIOTIC WORK

OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL ACTIVITIES FOR TWELVE MONTHS ENTHUSIASTIC HELPERS In answer to a request by an Otago Daily Times reporter for details of the work: being carried out by the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council, the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) supplied some interesting information. The Mayor said that the activities ol the council, which has its working headquarters in the basement of the Town Hall, had been carried on during the past year with unabated enthusiasm by a large body of keen workers. Each '*eek day found one of the different women’s organisations hard at work in its particular department. and this had resulted in substantial quantities of suitable articles being made or forwarded to national headquarters at Wellington for transmission to our men overseas.

The Mayor stated that it was hardly necessary to particularise the work of the different sections, but he would like to mention, without making any invidious distinctions, the services rendered by the Wool Committee, the Hussifs Committee, the Gift Parcels Committee, and the Lady Galway Guild Fund.

In addition to the Lady Galway Guild workers in the Town Hall, depots existed in many localities in the city and suburbs, and the Mayoress desired to pay her tribute to those who had so willingly assisted in the work of reconditioning the garments packed in the 540 cases for shipment overseas. There was still need for further supplies of knitted comforts for our men abroad, said the Mayor. There was plenty of wool available for those willing to knit, and the Women’s Wool Committee appealed to women in the city to increase their knitting during the summer months to til! any gap which might be caused by a slackening in the country following on the rush of seasonal work. In December last. Mr Allen said, a Services’ Welcome Club was opened in suitable rooms in Moray place. This club had provided pleasure and refreshment for many a lonely soldier while on leave from duty in camp at Taieri or when visiting the city at such times as on final leave from the northern camps. The club had been conducted by the women’s organisations of the city at their own expense, with the assistance of country friends who had sent in foodstuffs. The Patriotic Executive was deeply grateful to those women who in any degree had assisted in this very fine work. In addition to the Services’ Welcome Club, further hospitality was about to be arranged for the large number of territorials now in training at Forbury and Wingatui. the Mayor stated. Arrangements had been made with the Returned Soldiers’ Association for the loan of its club room in Moray place and with women of the Territorial Association to dispense refreshments at week-ends at a nominal charge for those who desired it. This service,was available to all territorial soldiers, but especially to the men now in camp from Canterbury. Southland and other parts of Otago. The result of the first year's activities. added the Mayor, must be' considered most gratifying. To September 30, 1940. the summary of goods forwarded from the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council for shipment overseas was as follows: Gift Parcels—March. 665; June 1330; September. 2790; total, 4785. Knitted Goods.—Balaclavas. 2034; gloves, 813 pairs: scarves. 1031; mittens, 2220 pairs; pullovers, 162.

Hussifs.—Two thousand nine hundred and thirty, and 60 pay book covers. Lady Galway Guild Five hundred and forty cases ot refugee clothing had been packed in Otago for shipment overseas Of this number 185 cases had been shipped during August, and 250 cases during September, leaving 105 cases ready awaiting shipment. Included were about 20 cases containing over 1000 pairs -of boots and shoes all in good order and condition and fit for immediate wear. Grants Financial assistance given trom funds for the welfare of men in camps and overseas had been as follows: — Taieri Airport.—Billiard table £l2 10s, Christmas grant £lO, sundries £3 ss. sp"rts gear £67 2s 6d: total £152 17s 6d. In addition a further £44 had just been granted for the purchase of sporting material. Comforts in Army Camps (December to March)

National Fund The following contributions had been made to the National Patriotic Fund Board:— Account Regimental Fund.—First and second echelons overseas, £200; sick and wounded appeal. £1000; fighting services (Y.M.C.A. and S.A.), £3OOO. | Expenditure on gift, parcels to date, over and above donations of goods, £1728 12s 3d. Relief given P soldiers discharged soldiers, and dependents, £43 17s 6d. Expenditure- in connection with the Services’ Welcome Club, £lO3 19s lid. Expenditure on hussif contents. £9 15s id. . , , Purchase of wool for the making of knitted goods, £862 12s sd. London Distress Relief Fund, £2350.

£ s. d. Burnham Camp equipment 100 0 0 Otago Regimental Fund, Burnham Camp .... .. 100 0 0 Sports gear, Burnham ?. 215 2 0 Loud speaker, second echeIon 50 8 0 Bagpipes, Otago Scottish, third echelon 82 17 6 Travelling refreshments, Southland troops .. .. 16 11 0 Total £564 18 6 The sum of £ 156 has also been granted for additional sporting gear £ s. d. Comforts for men ot first echelon on troopships . • 166 5 0 Comforts for the men on guard duty at vital points 28 4 3 Farewell functions to Otago reinforcements .. . • 49 11 0