PATRIOTIC WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1916, Page 4

PATRIOTIC WORK.

| RED CROSS SOCiETl'.' The secretary of th* !,'ew If'lvmo-.itn hnincn ol V'.u- liritish t:.:d Cross Society . (Mr. A, )!. i:i!,,n„| h j ; , :, received a tele gr.im from the Wellington Head Centre, assuring the local society of the pu'.r..n. age nf the flovcrnm 1 ,-who is now absent in Clirisielr.iivh. in eonnoetion with thn fete at Antea next Thursday. A Miiiiiher nf orders for' Christina cakes and puddings have been received by tin; lied Cross Market, and flic •committee appeal for donations of tlicso dainties for their sale to-day, in order to cope with the demand. til addition, contributions of flowers aiid other produce will be very acceptable. The patriotic llovver stall in Brougham. Street will be open to-day in the interests of (he Salvation Army Belgian Kund. The committee'will welcome gifts of dowers. BELGIAN A'PPEAL. The details of the Santa Clntu ' scheme, by which the Belgian Relief Committee hopes to raise £30,000 for the relief of distress in Belgium, have been completed. The appeal i% being made to every man, woman and child in New Zealand to become a shareholder in one of the most ambitious and attractive undertakings that have ever been launched in connection with patriotic work. The promoters are confident that the desperate need of Belgium, which, beyond all question, is as great, if not greater, to-day than it was two years ago, will commend this effort to all who realise the debt of gratitude owing to the nation that stood between Britain and national disaster. This appeal is being launched in the hope that the response will bo ia the nature of a Christmas sacrifice, and as the shares are being issued at one penny j each, there is ample opportunity for all I to subscribe. | Jn connection with the appeal on beI half of the poor children of Belgium, tho local officers of the Salvation Army have been engaged in distributing envelopes in the Taranaki district. The recipients are invited to enclose a contribution, and to return the envelope. to the local centre. The money i» then forwarded to headquarters. The Women's Patriotic League has originated a novel idea of helping the Belgian cause. Pretty little handkerchief bags are being made by members of the League. These bags will lie distributed, and the recipients will bo invited to return them, on Christinas. Kvo, with one penny or more enclosed. Ti.« scheme was originated owing to the fact that a large number, oc New inlander; are away from their homei on Christmas Day. The donation will bo regarded as a Christmas gift. MANUFACTURE OF BANDAOE3. Disappointment has been experien«:e<i by those conducting the affairs of the local branch of .the Red Cross Society at the lethargy displayed by the /oun'g men who some time ago undertook to devote one evening- a week to the manufacture of bandages. In consequence of the smallncss of the classes lately, it has been decidod to close the room in which they have been held until after ihe Xew Vear. There is still an urgent need for bandages, and 1 steps will be taken to revive the interest in the work of inakiugHhem after the holidays. Evidence of what can be done by enthusiastic effort is supplied in the experience of Opawa. a suburb of Chrktchurch. A men's bandaging brigade has been at work iii this suburb for the past twelve months, with an average attendance of twenty-five members, during this period a sum of £-237 5s has been contributed by the men for buying material, and 2:i,u05 and 1230 swabs have been sent" to the Red Cross depot. -■'