BRITISH AND BELGIAN POOR

Evening Star, Issue 15607, 25 September 1914, Page 6

BRITISH AND BELGIAN POOR

OVERSEAS CLUB'S ORGANISATION TO PROVIDE CLOTHING, ETC. The coming winter in England and Belgium is sure to be felt very severely by families that are in distress on account of the war. In our own Mother Land there will be thousands of homes without breadwinners. In Belgium the misery must be even more acute, owing to the burnings and evictions by the enemy. This mass of suffering is too great to be alleviated by local efforts. The humanity of tho world hears a call. New Zealand has already commenced to answer it, and, as usual, Otago will lead the way. In furtherance of this response, a meeting of ladies, called by the women's committee of the Overseas Club, was hold in the Early Settlers' Hall last night. About 50 Indies attended. Mrs O. K. Statham occupied the chair, and Mrs J. C M'George stated the business, explaining that donations of clothing and other gifts must be fent away promptly in order to be of service. The meeting took np the proposals very heartily, and proceeded to make arrangements tor setting up tub-committees in the City and suburbs. Mrs M'Fie, wife of Mr J. K. M'Fie, will act as treasurer, and Miss Lawrence as secretary. Gifts of wool and flannel and other materials will be acceptable, also blankets, and sound garments that have been worn or havo become out of fashion. These garments should, of course, be washed and mended before being sent in. Sewing machines and other appliances have been put in room No. 9, the club's office, in the New Zealand Express Company's building, and ladies willing to participate in the work of remaking and packinz will be heartily welcomed any day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Already quite a number have enrolled as workers, and many others are expected, so that ladies who cannot attend personally may he sure that any material they send in will be used to advantage, whilst it may suit others to take some of the work home. The meeting adopted a suggestion that each school child be asked to conxribute from a penny to sixpence towards the cost of material. . It was decided to send everything to the headquarters of the Overseas Club in London, in whose hands the matter of distribution will be left. A number of ladies have already got sufficient Teady to fill several cases 1 , and it is hoped to get the first lot away within a fortnight. ACTIVITY AMONG THfTwOMEN OF THE PRESBYTERLO CHURCH. The work of providing clothing for the manv who during the coming winter in. Britain and Belgium will be impoverished through the war is being taken up enthusiastically bv the ladies of the Presby. terian Church. " In various parishes in the City ard suburbs liberal contributions are being made and guilds of workers are busilv engaged. The gifts will be distributed through charitable agencies of the Church in England, Scotland, and Ireland. It is believed that in this way the women of the Church will bo able to do the jtreatT-et amount of good alike in making contributions here and in securing their effective distribution in the Mother Country The effort wil' also nave a wholesome effect in strengthening the bond between the New Zealand and the Mother Church.