HAPPINESS OF GIVING

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21968, 17 December 1936, Page 12

HAPPINESS OF GIVING

"THE PRESS SHIP" EFFORT

CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR NEEDY FAMILIES

. YOUTHFUL HELPERS OF SANTA CLAUS

The delights of a Christmas dinner table, magnified many limes—a blaze of toys for hundreds of children, presents for fathers and mothers, and a host of little comforts for grandmothers and grandfathers—make a dazzling display in "The Press Ship" rooms, where the annual exhibition of gifts contributed by boy and girl readers of "The Press" for distribution to needy families is being held to-day and to-morrow. Dainty dolls, elegant in their hand-sewn frocks, lie check by jowl with bright-eyed golliwogs. They carry no price tickets to daunt the young admirer, and for that reason perhaps their painted smiles are all the sweeter. Everywhere is orderly confusion, made gay with Christmas stockings, sweets, balloons, and tinsel, and clockwork toys of every conceivable description and purpose. One looks instinctively for Santa Claus in this fairyland, and one sees —the genii who have worked the miracle, bright-faced boys and girls moving proudly among the gifts that they have made or collected. It is said that half the happiness of giving is to bask in the warmth of the receiver's gratitude, but these boys and girls neither see nor know those for whom their gifts are destined. The identity of the recipients of all this bounty is a closely-kept secret, known only to Lady Gay, who arranges the distribution. Her youthful helpers are content with the knowledge that somewhere some boy or girl, some father or mother, less fortunate than themselves, will have some little thing to radiate round them Christmas cheer. Charity, as such, is eliminated, but enduring goodwill remains. Children's Generous Response There is usefulness as well as pleasure in the gifts that have been accumulated. Forty-two little boys in Christchurch will be the richer by a pair of new pants this Christmas, while others will receive shirts, socks, and many more useful gifts as well as their due share of captivating knick-knacks ahd trifles. Fathers who have known long years of "doing without" will have their little luxuries—real shaving soap, for instance, and a new bristle brush. The moralist woulu surely find a rich field for study in this happy exposition of the precept and practice of welldoing. All the contributions are the unaided efforts of "Press Ship" children. The handwork has been done either by clubs or individuals, sometimes under the supervision and instruction of adults, but even the provision of materials is undertaken by the children themselves^•», „The money which was used to purchase some of hte articles has been* raised by the children by means of concerts, fairs, sweets stalls, vegetable, stalls, community singing, and in. divers other ways. The gifts have come from a wide range of territory, from as far away as Auckland in the north and Invercargill in the south, but the main bulk of the contributions is the work of children in the Canterbury district. The children of Dunedin have made a particularly generous response to this year's undertaking, while there have been several enthusiastic groups of workers on the West Coast, especially in South Westland. In Hawke's Bay, shipmates of "The Press Ship" have banded together, and have made a remarkable contribution of Christmas cheer for needy children in their own province. In different parts of Canterbury clubs have specialised in their own forms of work. Thus the children of Woodend have formed a strong sewing and knitting club. Funds for materials were raised by concerts and other entertainments, and this exhibit includes among many festive presents such useful articles as 42 pairs of boys' pants, 21 boys' shirts, cardigans, baby knitted sets, girls' frocks, and knitted quilts. Comforts for Pensioners Another very attractive exhibit 's that of the "Good Samaritans" Club. This club has concentrated on providing comforts for old-age pensioners, and its contribution is a charming illustration of youthful thoughtfulness. There are tobacco and pouches for old men, while for old ladies there are little teapots with bright knitted covers, tea cosies, gay knitted shawls, teacups filled with sweets, and piles of hot-water bottles, each dressed in a knitted jacket. The "Gaynor Club" has found a fascinating industry in making Christmas stockings. No pains have "'een spared to make these articles of mystery thoroughly professional in appearance, and the care which must have gone into the selection of their contents is most apparent. Hundreds of stockings have been made and filled by the shipmates themselves. Another delightful collection is that sent in by the "Mairehau" club, which consists of Christmas stockings and children's frock and suit outfits neatly packed in gay cellophane wrappers. Golliwogs of Charm There are golliwogs and golliwogs, but those made by the members of the "Young Helpers" Club must rank as outstanding examples. They are golliwogs of charm, personality, and engaging manners. Their clothing is impeccable, and their general air is such as to command the instant adoration of any child. In addition, this club has provided Christmas stockings, hand-worked cushions and frocks for little girls, and money raised by the members has been used to buy a wonderful assortment of little gifts for mothers and fathers, as well as an exciting array of clockwork toys. With cushions, frocks, oven cloths, teddybears, blackboard-easels, and dolls' bassinettes, the "Kiwi" Club has made a fine display, while the "Carefree" Club has included in its exhibition of dolls' beds a model of "The Press Ship" cot, which will be maintained at the Cholmondeley Children's Home for next year by Lady Gay's helpers. This contribution also includes an excellent assortment of woodwork toys. The gifts will be displayed in "The r ess Ship" rooms during to-day and to-morrow, and on Saturday the work of packing the parcels and hampers for distribution will be begun. Fleets of cars will leave "The Press" building on Christmas Eve to take gifts to their destinations with as little ostentation as possible. The outbreak of infantile paralysis in the south has curtailed several of the functions that were to have been held by "Press Ship" members in the next few days. The usual party will be given for the children of the Waltham Orphanage next Wednesday, when a Christmas tree with gifts and a supper will be provided. "The Press Ship" children, however, will not be present as in former years. On Saturday the pudding gathering arranged by the Christchurch Gas Company will be held as usual, only without the presence of any of the children. In this case the puddings will be mixed by the mothers and other adult helpers before being cooked in readiness for distribution on Christmas Eve. >