CLOTHING PROVIDED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 6

CLOTHING PROVIDED

Servicemen’s Dependents In Need Working exclusively to help provide clothing for needy wives and other dependants of New Zealand servicemen, is a group of Wellington women under the mayoress, Mrs. Hislop. Mauy of the helpers arc already familiar with activities like this, for they are also members ot the Lady Galway Guild, which sends clothing 'to the needy of bombed areas in Britain, but the group itself carries on outside the realm of'the guild. The needy wives and, children ot men of the fighting forces in Britain are beiii" assisted in much the same way, as that of the group here, it has transpired. In thanking the "Wellington brunch ot the Lady Galway Guild through Mrs. Hislop, the chairman, lor clothing received, officers of the Womens \oluiitaiy Services referred to this other aspect ot the aid given. . “As joint clothing officer for 'vest Hartlepool since 1940. I would like to try to express the gratitude aud wonder we experience, as clothing personnel, when wc unpack the various generous gifts you send,” ran one letter. Ibe thought, care and friendly messages that are so often enclosed in the gifts ot blankets, quilts, layettes and clothing,, are trulv amazing aud we so appreciate all the time, labour and goodwill that has been spent on behalf of our bombed and needy folk. This area was one of the earliest to suffer from sporadic bombing in 1940 to 1941 and the gratitude of the recipients of your gifts would have amply repaid you could you have seen J '“Since then we have clothed many torpedoed merchant seamen and we also help needy wives and children of our fighting forces through the Soldiers, Sailors’, Airmen’s Family Association. The clothing layetts given to the latter are a tremendous kelp and they are always so grateful. Our 12 rest centres are stocked with your gifts of second-hand clothing for immediate issue to bombed people We were also able to utilize some of this stock to start a children’s clothing exchange.” “At present our work is mostly among soldiers’, sailors’ and airmen’s families, who often find it bard to make ends meet,” wrote another officer “A gift of clothing is a tremendous help nnd expectant mothers who get a layette invariably say, ‘None of my other babies looked as lovely as this baby will. »' e also give your clothing to wives and mothers of soldiers, sailors and airmen, who are ill and in some cases have to go into hospital.” . . From the W.V.S. regional clothing store in Bristol, came another letter of thanks. The writer said all the workers there once more thanked all the branch workers in Marlborough, Nelson, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, East Coast and Wellington districts. It was splendid to see how the interest had been maintained throughout these anxious years. “The outlook, however, is much brighter and we can confidently look forward to the glorious peace for which all are long-, ing,” the letter concluded.