WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 March 1918, Page 7

WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

WORK FOR THE SOLDIERS. LETTERS OF APPRECIATION.

'Die Mayoress of New 'Plymouth (Mrs. 0. H. Burgess, M.8.E,) has received, by ih<v last English and Expeditionary Forces mail, further numerous letters and postcards in acknowledgment of gifts sent from New Plymouth by the Women's Patriotic Committee, all of which refer in the'highest terms of appreciation to the work of the women on behalf of the boys at the front.

The money raised by the High School Oh! Girls, in connection with the baby competition, has now been all acknowledged, several letters referring to various sums being amongst those received by the last mail. Miss Drayton, the London Secretary of the Victoria League, wrote acknowledging a draft of £SO •■ent through the League for the Queen Mary Auxiliary Hospital at Roohampton. In connection with the same fund laised by the Old Girls, the officer commanding the N.Z. Stationary Hospital in France wrote • acknowledging receipt of £SO, Sir Arthur Pearson also wrote acknowledging £SO Bent to St. Dunstan's Hospital for blind soldiers, ani expressed cordial thanks on behalf of the gallant men, who greatly appreciate is being done for them.

J.?ias Drayton also wrote in reference to the autograph tablecloths that were Wnt through them to the Overseas Club. It will bo remembered that the cloths represented a sum of £l5O, and a wish •was expressed that the money might be expended in providing some kind of free entertainment for the men at Christmas time The letter states that the cloths were used for the first time on Christmas Pay at a supper given to soldiers by the Overseas Club. The men were greatly pleased to be the guests of the New Plymouth ladies on that occasion. Miss Drayton says they were given a literal menu, including three meat dishes, with cold turkey, and four sweets. The men were much interested in the cloths, to ?ee if they could And any familiar names inscribed thereon. It happened that on the night of the supper the commandant n f the voluntary helpers was a New Zealand lady—Mrs. Thomas, Christchurch —who had been engaged in the work for 2| years. Quite a lot of post-cards in acknowledgment of Christmas parcels were received from men at the front, many of them bearing characteristic messages, and we have been permitted to make some excerpts from some of them. In acknowledging a parcel received on Christmas morning S. Lee says: It is really "ripping" of the ladies to spend so much time on the boys out liere. I have had a delightful Chrstum in a Nov Zealand T T nspital.

.Another soldier eays| Thanks for welcome and useful pareel, delivered through the Y.M.C.A. As we are a good way from anv town the contents ware much appreciated. t?. H. Arnott writes: Received parcel on \ow Year's Day. It was very excitine to see all the boys opening their parcels. Two soldiers whose gifts arrived on New Year's Day express thanks for "buckshee'' parcels. Clem C. Weaver says: Was pleased to receive parcel; contents good and nsofnl. Have been in bed sick for two •lavs; parcel acted like s tonic.

■Private D. Orr says: Cannot thank y.)U enough for your jolly decent parcel.

W. Leslie writes: Contents of Christmas parcel good and welcome—just -what was wanted.

F. Cheaewas says: Everything just the thing.