CLOTHES FOR REFUGEES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 6

CLOTHES FOR REFUGEES

The Lady Galway Patriotic Guild At Work Tf those women throughout Now Zealand who are collecting or making clothes for the refugees io Great. Britain could spend an hour at Government House, Wellington, the headquarters of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guilds, they would feel added pride in their labour of love and find inspiration for carrying on with vigour in the good work. The stately ballroom at Government House, which has been the Scene of so many functions of brilliance and dignity,' now in these times of war presents a vastly different scene. The great, room is a packing and sorting centre, and here voluntary workers come each day to give their services preparing the garments for their final packing before* being sent, on the* perilous journey over the high seas. The greatest source of encouragement to the workers at: Government House is the very practical interest and understanding her Excellency Lady Galway takes in all aspects of the work. There is not a day when she is not personally supervising some aspect of the packing or sorting, or arranging much of tin: business flint comes up in connexion with the guilds. In this work her “right hand’’ is Mrs. Knox Gilmer, chairman of the executive committee, who with her usual vigour and practical understanding of organizing, sees that the work is put through with the maximum speed and efficiency.

At Lady Galway's suggestion, notices in bold printing wei;e erected to mark off each group and detail the requirements at each long working table, thus simplifying the task and eliminating explanations to newcomers.

The voluntary workers include groups from various societies ami women's organizations, and others interested. It is hard for the average person who cheerfully parts with unwanted clothes to realize what they go through before being sent away. It is evident from the parcels received that some people regard the parting with old clothes with sentiment, many will) reality. and others with little thought of the uses they may. bo put to by those they are intended for. The sentimental ones include a man who sent a lofig poem inside his contribution, starting, “Farewell, old coat. . . . ” and Olliers who sent notes and amusing remarks; the realistic include the woman who sent complete make-up sets inside purses, and the children who sent dolls and toys in the clothes which they had collected to scud. That there are those who put little thought into the selection of the garments they send is cvident by the discarded shoes that are practically worn out, tin? woollies and other clothes that are unwashed, and others that are quite unwearable, or could be made useful by mending or cutting down beforehand. A great deal of time and labour could be saved if such small details (to the donors) as cleaning shoes, for instance, was done beforehand. Yesterday at Government house four women and two girl guides were busy cleaning, pairing and tying together men's, women’s and children’s slices. Others wore preparing piles and piles of mending for 10 young women from a dressmaking establishment who have volunteered their services for today. There were piles of clothes for the laundry and dry cleaners’, and another pile was ready ‘for a group of women to take home and cut down into children's garments. The committee would greatly appreciate attention to cleanliness, particularly, as it would reduce the magnitude of the final tasks. On the whole the quality of the articles received has been of a very creditable standard. They are packed in grades according to quality, and the first grade generally comprises unworn or practically now garments which will be greatly valued by the recipients. The interest of the people of New Zealand in the cause of the refugee peoples in the Mother Country is shown by their resiwnse to the appeal made by the Lady Galway Guilds. Much satisfaction must be felt by all concerned in this practical gesture of sympathy and help made toward alleviating the distress of the homeless thousands.