PATRIOTIC WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1916, Page 8

PATRIOTIC WORK.

A letter lias been received by the Egmont County Council from the secretary to tlm Wellington Citizens' Provincial Christmas Gift Fund asking that publicity should 'be given among poultryTaisers to a scheme for making "poultry day" a success. The 'idea is to solicit gifts of poultry, which will be fomvarded to Wellington and sold, find the funds will be utilised to provide 7000 Christmas gifts for soldiers" from the Wellington area. The chairman saicl there were plenty of places that people could give their donations locally. The poultry would hardly realise what it would cost to send it to Wellington. One occasionally hears the opinion expressed that it is waste of time to do sewing for the Red Cross as the goods remain in the depots and arc not forwarded to the hospitals where they are required. The following extract shows what the Wellington British Red Cross Society (of which New Plymouth is a branch) is at present doing in thr matter of sending away hospital necessities and comforts to our men: —The Red Cross and St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas Committee at Nathan's Buildings are sending away tins week to St. John's Gate, Loudon, for distribution where needed, two bales of pyjamas, two of undershirts, two of bed shirts, two of bed jackets, two of old linen, one of towels, one of dressing-gowns; also six cases of Christmas gift for distribution among the men in the difi'erent hospitals, three cases of hospital equipment, three cases of bandages, two of shirts,, and two of hospital suits. For the troopships have been provided two cases of books and two cases are to be sent to St. John's Gate. Risk of overlapping is obviated, as all that the hospitals or different organisations have to do, as was pointed out at the formation of the Wellington branch of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John, is to apply to the central authorities, who will have the good? dispatched at once to where they are wanted. Mesdames Hugh Baily and D. K. Morrison yesterday despatched 22 more parcels of Christmas comforts for the Taranaki soldiers at the front. Mcsdame: Tyrrell, Byrnes, Stewart, apl Fields will be the hostesses at the patriotic afternoon tea on Friday..