HELPING THE CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 122, 27 May 1925, Page 7

HELPING THE CHILDREN

OVERSEAS RELIEF FUND

GIFTS WARMLY APPRECIATED

TO THB EDITOR,

Sir, —The AVellington Navy League ladies have for some years been sending to England cases of warm clothing for the orphans of Naval and Mercantile ratings who were killed in the war, and also for children of demobilised men who are unable to obtain work. Last year 600 warm garments were shipped and distributed in Liverpool, Devouport, Portsmouth, Chatham, and Stomoway (Hebrides) districts, and the numbers of grateful letters received have prompted us to make an appeal through your columns for money, woollen garments for women and children, or woollen material to make up.

The material is made up by the girls of our public and private schools, and by willing workers amongst the lady members.

Mrs. Harding, of Petone, is president of the Work Committee, and is glad at any time to hear from those anxious to help.

We feel sure that if the good, kindhearted, generous people of Wellington read the following letters, which are typical^ we shall be simply snowed under with donations of money, garments, and material.

The shipping companies cany our cases free of charge. Mrs. B. (widow of Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.V.R.—clothes sent for girl) : "We arrived home on Tuesday, and I was so glad to find the parcel had arrived safely, and we were both delighted with the contents. Will you kindly convey to the Ladies' Work Committee of the Wellington N.Z. Branch of the Navy League our deep appreciation of their kindness in sending so many lovely warm garments. We are so very thankful for them, especially as Dorothy has "been ill with rheumatism and needed warmer clothing for the winter. The thick warm underclothing fits Dorothy well, and the coat is ideal. Dorothy's clothing had become too short and thin, so you can imagine how very thankful we were to receive the parcel. lam quite sure if the Ladies' Work Committee could have just peeped into our home and seen how delighted. we were with the garments they so kindly sent, they would feel that they had not worked in vain We have always deeply appreciated anything that has been done for us, and you can bo quite sure evm-v care will be taken of the clothing. Thanking you for remembering us" MM ?:.( wWow of Master°Mariiwr iU.M.—clothes sent for seven children) • Many thanks for. the wonderful parcel which arrived quite safely. Everything was just a perfect fit-one would think the whole seven children were fitted for the garments. They are delighted, and send their thanks to the kind people of New Zealand. May I express my sincere gratitude .for remembering my children. I always tell them of the great and wonderful things the Navy League have done in the past for them. Dear Secretary, I. do wish you could see into my heart how" much 1 feel and how sincere my thanks are to the Ladies' Wovk Committee and the Navy League. I feel I cannot find words' to express the feelings of the children for those lovely presents, all of which are badly wanted this cold weather. With ■renewed thanks and best wishes from the children to the Ladies' Work Committee, Wellington, New Zealand, and the Navy League." Mrs. A. (widow of leading signalman, K.N.—clothes sent for the two childrei? of this man) : "Just a few lines to thank yoii and the dear children who sent my girls the lovely parcel of clothing, for winch we are all so grateful. They were quite excited when it arrived, and as they do nob get surprises like it oiteu, you may depend that you have made them happy, besides nice- and warm to go out in our cold weather ■Here. I think it is nice to know that someone cares for the children left when their daddy made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. . I will again thank you all very much for your kind consideration of my two daughters." Extracts from letters received by the secretary Navy League Overseas Eehef Fund Sub-Committee, Devonport by whom the clothes were distributed : fleaso accept my greatest thanks for the parcel of clothes you so kindly sent You can. imagine how very useful they came in when I tell you I have seven young children under fourteen years of kindness^'™ thankin S y°u for your Copy of letter from Secretary- Navy mX 6 °PWi eM Belief r Flmd Sub-Corn* mittee, Chatham :—"I am i n «tmMori by the i Chatham Sub-Committ"f ™the JNavy League Overseas Relief Fund to convey to your committee their" nee re thanks and very high appreciation M who although their husbands served^ Ss^Ss^tn-feCS had: hlon, father f S haVe «*KS naa a long run of unemployment, which trouble and time y OII have devoled to such a noble cause.—Yours fa^lYfTii signed) Robert E. Cubitt, B.N We'

Extracts from letter received hy the above-named secretary :—"l am "J..u ■ his to thank you ver/much fo t! c '"f ly parcel of,warm clothing receK-od 'or my three little hoys and to tell you imw very grateful botf. myself^ and J? v " fcband were. I feel sure you wiHrnderf ta'f l '.°- V VCry thankful X ™ *oj such useful thmgs coming when certainly most needed or this weather, and from friends who although so. far away, not o, X SMSlKd^™* ho^veto^l

"I am writing to thank you for • the clothes you 50 kindly SB nt "«_*! brother and myself. They just came It the right timo as my mother w as wout--ing and wondering how she could cet us some, as we were, very badly in mfed of some new ones. I have had no ew diddv ?T now since we losfc °« daddy and those you sent fit me as though I was measured for them. Mother and I are very grateful for them. I must wish all of you :i very prosperous Now W-With love froni mS',°" , Joa,, Whystrew and Phillip, my hrothe^ Will you thank the Now Zealand chJdren for sending the consignment of ? f UI6S TT, t0 11S? jMy bwtl'«S and myself are delighted with the things that I received, also thanking you for J£ kindness in distributing them." "i received your parcel this morning. I wish (o thank you very much, the little shoes fitted the little boy mid tV socks, so.I am keeping them till I <r e t Him a, pair of trousers and a little overcoat and then he can go to school." .Extracts from lcttei-e received by secretary, Navy Leaguo Overseas 'Kelisf

Fund Sub-committee, Portsmouth, by whom tho clothes were distributed:— "I am writing to thank the New Zealand branch for tho most useful garments kindly given to me for my two little girls., which came as a pleasant surprise, and is very acceptable and a great comfort to them. How good and kind of our overseas Dominions being so thoughtful in sending such a glorious parcol to comfort the orphans that have lost through the cruel war. The last garments kindly given to me were more than appreciated and wero very useful, and lmvo been -well. worn. Again thanking you for your kind thought for us at Home."

"I am writing to ask you if you would kindly thank tho j\ t.Z. Navy League for their very great kindness for the beautiful things they so kindly sent me, everyone of which was just'the very thing I wanted, for the skirt just fitted Kitty beautifully, and the little green frock for my little Viotet, and the scarf for myself is so beautifully warm. Ido think it is so kind of them and I am so grateful."

"I am writing to thank you, also the people of New. Zealand for the Christmas parcel, each piece of clothing is very acceptable. I found them so useful. The shirt fitted Leslie just as if I had made it myself, and he is so proud of it. It is so kind of you not to forget the dear children, whose fathers gave their lives for us all."

Extract from letter from the Rev. G. Macleod, Stomoway (Hebrides), who kindly distributed clothing:—"l have also pleasure in enclosing three short notes from tho children to whom Mrs. Macleod gave some of the clothes sent by the New Zealand children through your committee. She took the liberty of distributing the garments according as she saw the need—to some more and to some less than others, according to their need. She could conveniently 'have distributed five times the quantity she had but it was, I assure you, very much appreciated. "-—I am, etc.,

E. DARROCH,

Hon. Secretary, Wellington Navy League.