PATRIOTIC WORK BY WOMEN

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 14

PATRIOTIC WORK BY WOMEN

CHRISTMAS PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS SOUTHLAND’S QUOTA NOW COMPLETED After a fortnight’s continuous work the 1380 soldiers’ parcels which comprised Southland’s quota for the Christmas consignment have, been completed. All the town sub-cominittees have assisted with the assembling and wrapping of the country parcels. Bay Road and Wyndham committees also sent in helpers. Thanks are due to these women, and also to the members of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, who gave valuable assistance, says a statement by the Women’s Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. To these country sub-committees and individuals * who ■ sent in donations of money and goods the committee is grateful. It is impossible to mention them individually. It is absolutely necessary that all goods must be enclosed in tins. Many unsuitable donations have been received. Such things as cake and chocolate, unless tinned, are useless; also, any glass-contained goods such as barley sugar in jars, honey in jars, Marmite, Bovril, and so on, and soap. Unless they are tinned, none of these can be included in the parcels. If thought is given to the handling that these parcels will receive before they reach their destination, it will be realized how much care must be given to selection and packing of the goods.

CENTRAL The collection for the Soldiers’ Christmas Parcels has been completed and £3O has been allotted to the parcels fund. The committee thanks those who gave money and those who provided fruit, toffee and handkerchiefs. A fine display of chrysanthemum plants has been donated by the children of the Middle school, and these are on sale at Victoria Concert Chamber by courtesy of the Invercargill Horticultural Society. The competition for underwear was won by No. 5, Miss Claire Lynch, Clyde street. SUB-COMMITTEES South Invercargill “A.”—Shop takings and donations for the week amounted to £3/18/-. Donations of 10/- each were received from Miss McQuarrie and Mr and Mrs T. Bleakly. South Invercargill “B.”—Donations of £1 from Mrs C. Macdonald, and 10/from “Mother,” have been received. Collections for the Christmas parcel fund now total £35/18/9. The Girls’ Committee held a card evening at the home of Miss Jennie Thomson, Grace street, gifts sufficient for two parcels being collected. The quilt assembled by the committee will be on display in H. & J. Smith’s window next week.

North Invercargill.—The main activity of this committee during the week has been the packing of Christmas parcels.

The Girls’ Patriotic Club is planning a games evening to be held at the home of Mrs G. Georgeson on October 9. Georgetown.—The women of the committee have been busy this . week with the packing of Christmas parcels. The treasurer, Mrs E. Sinclair, reports having paid £l2, the final proceeds of the Georgetown concert, to the London Distress Fund. The women will be calling next week house-to-house collecting for the same fund.

FAREWELL FUNCTION AT WOODLANDS

MR AND MRS J. PYE HONOURED The Woodlands hall was well filled recently when the residents of Woodlands and surrounding districts gathered to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs J. Pye, who have left Woodlands to live at Thornbury. The evening took the form of a dance and Miss M. McKenzie played extras. Messrs R. McNatty, P. Jones and J. Robbie were masters of ceremonies.

The chairman, Mr W. Bell, said that Mr and Mrs Pye had lived in Woodlands for eight years and during that period they had taken an active part in practically every society and organization in the district, and had willingly assisted in every way possible. They had proved themselves worthy citizens, for which they were held in high esteem by everyone. Mrs J. Robbie, president of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, expressed thanks to Mrs Pye for her services, and the use of her home on several occasions, also for her work on the women’s patriotic committee. She wished both Mr and Mrs Pye a happy stay at Thornbury. Mrs W. Bell, president of the Literary and Debating Society, spoke of the help given by Mrs Pye to the society, and hoped she would become a member of the Thornbury society and would sometimes meet the Woodlands debating team in competition. Mr J. Hickey spoke on behalf of the patriotic committee, of which both guests were executive members, and sincere workers.

Mr A. W. C. McKee, a former railway official, paid a tribute to Mr Pye’s business ability. Mr J. Middlemiss and Mr W. Robertson (Morton Mains), spoke on behalf of the farming community when they expressed the gratitude of the farmers, to Mr Pye, who had assisted them in many ways.

Mr Bell asked Mr and Mrs Pye to accept an inscribed chiming clock from their many friends as a token of the esteem in which they were held and wished them a successful and happy future. Mr Pye replied.