PATRIOTIC GUILD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1941, Page 4

PATRIOTIC GUILD

MASTERTON ACTIVITIES. GIFTS ACKNOWLEDGED. A letter from the Dowager Marchioness of Reading, chairwoman of the Women’s Voluntary Services, London, has been received regarding the arrival of shipments of clothing, footwear and bedding from New Zealand, and extracts will be of interest: —“ .... I cannot tell you how very much your gifts are appreciated, but from the news you are receiving of the bomb’ ing which is taking place, you will be able to understand how every item of warm clothing is of incalculable value today. In one of the regions adjoining the London area, to which so many homeless people have been sent during the last few weeks, the news of the arrival of a consignment was so gladly received that the Regional .Commissioner immediately sent lorries to the docks to collect the cases which had been allocated to them. You will be interested to read an extract of a letter from one of our Regional Offices: ‘We are delighted with the consignments we' have received of clothes from New Zealand. They are secondhand but of such good quality. We filled the Utility Van with a load of these clothes yesterday and sent it to an area where help was urgently needed after two bad air raids. The Centre telephoned this morning to say that the clothes are exactly what was needed’.” Lady Reading states: “ .... It is difficult to find words to express our appreciation of the gifts from the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild.” A letter has also been received from Mr W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, which reads: "Now that considerable shipments of refugee clothing have arrived and have been distributed. I am able to give you a more complete account of how we deal with these consignments. The distribution of these goods is being attended to by the Women’s Voluntary Services for Civil Defence who have a clothing depot in London and others in most of the main centres throughout the country. In addition, this body works in co-operation with the Refugees National Committees, the Save the Children Fund, the British Red Cross Society, etc. Each shipment is taken over by the Women’s Voluntary Services at the port of discharge, and is distributed to the nearest centre which is in need of clothing. In one. instance .special lorries were sent to collect an allocation which was urgently required. You may rest assured that the great work of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild is helping to satisfy one of the greatest needs of our people here. The large consignments are a tribute to the patriotism of the people of the Dominion, and I can assure you there is no likelihood of a lack of grateful recipients.” The president of the local branch of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild. Mrs T. Jordan, wishes to record her appreciation of the assistance that has been rendered by the residents of Masterton ;ind district who have made the' work of the Guild possible. However, to enable the Committee to continue its work it will be necessary for further donations of clothing and materials to be made. It is confidently expected that after reading the extracts of the letters from England, that further assistance in this direction will be forthcoming. To facilitate the work of the Guild The use of a sewing machine is sought, and anyone who is willing to loan a machine can be assured that her action will be greatly appreciated.