DOMINION STOCKING LEAGUE

Evening Star, Issue 17919, 15 March 1922, Page 3

DOMINION STOCKING LEAGUE

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Dominion Stocking League was held in the Hanover Street Sunday School yesterday afternoon. .Mrs J. J. Clark (the acting-president) occupied the chair, and there wsis a good attendance of members. In congratulating the members on last year's work Mrs Clark expressed the hope that the league would not be content _to rest upon its reputation, but would strive to make this year the best and biggest iu its history. Mrs Clark said that she had been asked time after time for samples of the work done by the league, and only this week a request had come that some of the unique garments might be sent to the Old Land so that they might learn to utilise waste material in the way that was done by the league. The characteristic feature of the work was that the garments were made from material that was usually thrown into the dust bin as useless rubbish. It seemed incredible, when one looked at the wonderful garments —so charmingly designed and beautifully made—that they were made from old, discarded, useless stockings.' A special feature of the work was that they were not taking from the poor of our own city, but merely using what was unusable for them. Mrs Clark read a letter from Sir James Allen, in which lie acknowledged the receipt of the cases of goods and expressed his pleasure in distributing them to the various organisations. Sister Kathleen, of the West Ham Mission, had also written in eloquent terms of the joy their gift gave, and' of how smiles took the place of tears when the mothers saw their tiny children, who were crying piteously with cold, warmly clad. The president also spoke of the conditions of the poor in the Old Land, and from, her personal experience gave an effective picture of the sufferings endured by our own kind. She stressed the need of doing all that was possible to help the man and woman who were down and out simply because the social and industrial conditions were such that they were never given a chance. The work of the league was an Imperial work, and strengthened the links in the chain of loyalty and kinship that held the Empire together. The need of our sisters and brothers iu the Homeland should be a first claim on our sympathy and help. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted, as follows:—Patron, Viscountess Jcllicoe ; vice-patron, Mrs M'Laren ; president, Mrs J. J. Clark : vicepresidents—Mcsdarnes Mirams and Scott; committee —Mesdames Worlhington, Valentine, Kempton, Roberts, and Davios, with power to add to their number; hon. secretary and treasurer, Miss Mirams. Mrs Clark stated that Lady Jellicoe had taken the greatest interest in the work of the league, and whenever she came to Dunediu she never failed to make inquiries about it. Mrs M'Laren, who had been president for a number of years, had written stating that she would not be with them again, and it waa therefore a fitting compliment that she should be elected vicepatron. The vice-presidents, the members of the committee, and the secretary had all done splendid work during the past year, and she hoped they would be en- | couraged to continue their efforts during | the coming year. (Applause.) The Rev. F.. M. Beattie referred to the | conditions at Home, of which lie had a persona! knowledge, and emphasised the' great need which existed for the amelioration of those conditions. Mrs Clark expressed thanks to Mr Beattie for his address. Variety was lent to the gathering by songs by Miss Payne and Miss Dunlop, and at the close of the formal business afternoon tea was handed I round.