They're All Helping

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 283, 29 November 1941, Page 13

They're All Helping

-+ — LONDON' CORRESPONDENT

SEABOOT stockings have become quite an " industry" among Indian women in the Sierra, according to the British Women's Patriotic Fund in the Argentine. There is also a rather charming story about a little Peruvian manicurist in Lima who in spare time between manicures knits scarves for British sailors. Mrs. Maitland Dougall. honorary secretary of the Royal Navy comforts depot, tells me that South African farmers are still giving sheepskins and volunteer women are still making them into warm coats for men on British minesweepers. She says, too, that contributions continue to pour in from the Dominions, India, the United States and South America. Hongkong, Federated Malay States, the West Indies and Eire are also represented on the long list I was shown of contributors of comforts for seamen. At home the Queen, Queen Mary, the Duke of Kent and Princess Marie Louise head the list of the depot's supporters. Autres Temps I WAS going through some papers when I came across details about the Chelsea exhibition arranged little more than a year ago in aid of the Finland Fund. I went to the opening of the exhibition, I remember, and met Madame Gripenberg, wife of the Finnish Minister, and a number of prominent Finns. Madame Gripenberg took me to one of the exhibition rooms where antique Finnish furniture and pictures, brought from her house, were on view. She also showed me modern Finnish furniture and pottery, typical Finnish rugs, specimens of Finnish elementary crafts. She showed them proudly, for she loves Finland. We were doing all we could to help Finnish civilians then and our two countries seemed very close together. Madame and her friends said, "We shall never forget this." She must feel sad at the recent turn of events, because she loves Britain too.