New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 82, 13 March 1916, Page 7

New Zealand

RED CROSS CONFERENCE. A conference, over which Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool presided, was held in the Town Hall, Wellington, on Ist March, by kind permission of His Worship the Mayor, at which the Countess of Liverpool Fund, the Auckland Women's Patriotic League, the Otago Women's Patriotic Association, and other kindred funds were represented. Among the delegates present was Mrs Dyraock, representing Stratford. Resolved that, if practicable, an arrangement should be made for a Dominion gift of comforts consisting of a uniform parcel for general distribution for the men at the front. A committee of the Mayoresses and secretaries of the four centres J with I Her Excellency as President, was formed to decide on the contents of the j Dominion parcel. I A motion that the North and South | Islands should do tin's work alternately month about, was lost in favor of 'an amendment that the four centres should each provide a quarter monthly. ft was reported that Mr Bernard Tripp, of Timarn, had offered to go to Egypt at his own expense to supervise tlie distribution of Dominion gifts to New Zealand troops.—Resolved that Mr Tripp be assured that the committee highly appreciate his generous offer.

Each centre was requested to assist in motiey or kind in supplying transports with fruit, cake, books, games, gramaphones, etc., the Wellington committee to control the supplies. Resolved, that all appeals for gifts land all gift parcels go through the four centres. Complete affiliation with jthe country districts will be a sourceof immense strength to each centre. The fact that outgoing parcels to country districts of material, etc., were charged railage,although incoming parcels were earned free was brought before the Conference, and the epiestion of a rebate was raised. It was stated that official information had been obtained to the effect that the charge was inevitable. It was suggested' that l in order to increase interest and supply or knitted comforts a Dohiinion ''contest' fe'lionld; be Jjeld according'to tbM*£erißß 'of -'circular qistrjpuzed. After l •considerable' ! discussion,; it Was decided'that'if. should be left to the will of-each centre,' lik'-ii' Dominion contest at present was deemed iinsuitable. > • •' ! The attention of the Conference was called to the fact that wool could" be' purchased by contract, thereby reducing the price to the patriotic worker. A number of reports were received from various leagues as to the methods and contents of parcels distributed as parting gifts. A somewhat lengthydiscussion followed as to the advis- ' ability of continuing this-form of'gift, but it was decided to make no rule, as the smaller leagues pointed out that it had been so much approved that it would be difficult; to abandon it. Dujring the afternoon it was announced' thafr the parcel to tie 'sent -is a Dominion' 1 gift should be of'the value of 2s fijl, containing any of the following articlesV—Sardines,' salmon' ancliovy. extract of moat, ! Tiovrii, curry powder, Ktating's, Glaxo, soup tablets, cocoa, cornflour, soap, writing paper, and sanitary paper. A question was asked re variation of housewives, and it was pointed out that this was impossible, as the stock pattern has been contracted for. A vote of thanks to Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool for presiding at the Conference was proposed by Mrs Massey, seconded by Lady Ward, and carried with acclamation