COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL FUND

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3041, 30 March 1917, Page 3

COUNTESS OF LIVERPOOL FUND

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the Mayoress's Countess of Liverpool Fund, which will bo presented at tho annual meeting:— "Since our last annual meeting was held we have continued all the various branches of our work, including parcels . for France, Egypt, Mesopotamia, Samoa, and the officers and men of H.M.S. Philomel. We have had innumerable letters of thanks from all these places, and it is a great help to us all to feel our efforts aro so much appreciated. Our Christmas gift parcels numbered 7500, of which 6500 were consigned to France. Unfortunately, owing to delay of the transports en route, they could not be distributed in France in time for Christmas, but we are daily expecting to hear of their safe though somewhat tardy arrival. "The Egyptian parcels arrived at their destination in Christmas week, and we had most cnthusiastio letters of thanks from the recipients. The Christinas parcels each contained an excellent plum pudding, 2000 of which were generously donated by the "Wellington Meat Export Company, who also cooked the remaining 5500 free of charge. These puddings were all made by members of the committee and their friends. We would also like to mention the handsome gift from the .Gear Meat Company of 5000 tins of potted meat, one of which was enclosed in each parcel. "The total number of parcels sent by us since October is 12,175. Since January the Citizens' Gift Committee have ■undertaken the task of sending half the parcels to our troops in the trenches, which, needless to.say, is a very material help and lightens our task very> much.

"We have been making large numbers of anti-vermin shirts, and owing: to the efforts of Professors Easterfield and Kirk and Mr. Aston have been fortunate enough to discover a disinfectant which we believe will -be quite efficacious. | _ "This year we have put one of theso shirts into each of-our parcels for and 1 trust they will prove useful. We would especially like to thank Superintendent Tate and the members of his fire brigade for their kindness in •assisting with the disinfecting of tho shirts, which is a very tiring task. "We are still making large numbers of 'housewives,' sending in each month to the Defence Department 3260, of which Auckland and Ohristchurch each contribute 750., We feel ithat the greatest praise is due to those -woman who come day after day and work at the 'housewives;' as there is much monotony about the-work and it is owing to their tireless industry that we have been, enabled to keep our contract with the Government and send in these large quantities month by month. "As tho Government now has ft largo supply of holdalls tho committee haß not made any of these since December last. Up to 'that time large numbers were made monthly and sent to the Defence Department. On every troopship that has left, these shoreß this fund has placed lOcwt. of cake on board, a,i largo quantity of which is generously donated each time by Mesdames W. H. S. Moorhouse, Joseph, W. Nathan, L. Blundell, 'and Miss'Coates. Cases of books, balaclavas, mufflers, and'scarves for the soldiers on the voyage have also been placed on board each boat. In • conclusion' 'tho .committee wish to thank those gentlemen who have assisted by nailing and stencilling the cases, and ■in particular one,- who until last week has-domed all the 'housewives,' which is no-light,task; also those ladies and gentlemen who >haye-- given. entertainments in aid. of the fund and thereby -assisted us very materially, i The com--mittee also,express their 'thanks -to ;the'Citizens' Service-League,-who give .their' help whenever ' ' - -Tho ■ balance-sheet• of :the'■■;fund on January 31 shows'"a satisfactory balance "in the-bank of £1374 Bs. 4d., ba.sides'. which £500 is due from the Government for payment for 'housewives' supplied.'...The fund donated £200 to the Trenth'am'soldiers' dinner, £152 has been expended on cake for the troopships, and £745 lis'. Bd. on the soldiers' parcels, while £600 has been remitted to England for parcels and comforts for the soldiers at the The expenditure on wool for the year has been £329 Is. 3d.j but this is now sold so that there is no loss, and the shirts have so far cost £331 3s. Id. than £2280 3s. was received for Christmas puddings and gifts and the dinner, the cost to the fund for puddings alone being £222 4s. 9d. Postage.and such expenses amounted to £45 !6s. 7d. for the year, and cartage, labour; etc., to £118 2s. Subscriptions to the general fund amounted to £2185.65...