WOMEN'S WORKING CLUB.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 1 February 1917, Page 4

WOMEN'S WORKING CLUB.

SOLDIERS' COMFORTS FUND. With the increase in tie nurrJtJer of lads leaving this district the necessity for the maintenance of the Soldiers' Comforts Fund increases. With a view to putting this fund on a satisfactory footing a small carnival j was launched, and this carnival—the Rosebud competition—finally windsup on Saturday night next at 11 p.m. During the afternoon and evening a Paddy's Market is being held, the various committees providing the produce, meat, sweets, cakes, iced drinks and the other many and various necessities for such a function. It is the wish of the organisers that sufficient funds be derived from the carnival to ensure the despatch of parcels to our boys in the trenches ror at least a year without making any further call on the public generosity. The supplying of comforts to soldiers in the trenches and also in the hospitals is a matter of primary importance, and one that the public c.uinot neglect with honour to themsehes. A soldier's allowance is insufficier.: to enable him to provide himself with comforts outside of the meagre- regulation fare, and it is the bounden duty of those living at home in the highest degree of comfort and prosperity to spare a little of that for the lads who are righting for our comfort. Just for one moment compare your comforts, privileges, and menu with that of a soldier in the trenches —he goes into raptures at being supplied with a hot meal once in a while. You would grouse if you missed one hot meal out of three in a day. Charity begins at home they say, not that providing our soldiers with comforts is charity; it is a duty. They should be provided with luxuries, not comforts. Our soldiers sacrifice on an average £2 per week whilst fighting for us, not to mention the greater sacrificethey often make, the sacrifice of lifeand limb, which cannot be calculated. in £.s.d. Yet many who live in comfort here are almost crying agony at having to pay a war tax on excess profits. The Women's Working Club of Taihape have put in countless hours, im arranging and despatching parcels, and are willing to continue the humane - work indefinitely. Their club, hasbeen registered by the Government,, and is an official society the control of the Government auditor. The Minister of Internal Affairs hasalso commended the good informed them officially that the' method of despatching parcels is in accordance with that adopted by ail other similar societies in the Dominion, numerous letters are received monthly from the actual recipients of the parcels, and provided the addressee is actually with his unit every parcel is safely received at its destination. The secretary of the club is amxious that every soldier from this district be en the despatch list cf the club, and invites the triends of every soldier to see that such soldiers frames are included in list. It will therefore be realised that the work of the Women's Working Club is tc the interst of every member of the community. That being so, it is hoped that every member of the community will subscribe to the Fund through the Rosebud committees and enable the object of the carnival to be achieved, namely, the receipt of such a sum as will obviate the necessity for any further canvassing for a year or more. The ■ carnival closes definitely on Saturday, 3rd inst., at 1 p.m., when it is hoped that the promoters will be able to announce a result ate with the good of the cause.