CHRISTMAS TREAT

Evening Star, Issue 21905, 17 December 1934, Page 5

CHRISTMAS TREAT

ANNUAL R.S.A. EFFORT Two hundred and fifty children, the sons and daughters of deceased soldiers and of soldiers ill in hospital, were made supremely happy on Saturday afternoon at the annual Christmas treat held under the auspices qf -the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association jn the grounds of First Church. The children, with a number of parents and guardians, were first assembled in Burns Hall, where a delightful ballet was given by pupils of Miss Gwen Webster. Then the president of the association (Mr A. Thomas) extended a warm welcome to all, and expressed pleasure at the presence of Sir Fabian Ware (permanent vice-chairman of the Imperial War Graves Commission) and Lady Ware, and Sir James and Lady Allen. A delightful address was given by Sir Fabian to the children, who responded

loudly when there was a call for cheers for the visitors. The party adjourned to the grounds of First Church, each child on leaving the hall being presented with a toy by a real Father Christmas. Games and races were then arranged for the little folk, _ who entered with joy into the spirit of the occasion. There was a brisk demand for ice creams and soft drinks, which were supplied to the children, and another popular gift was of three bars of chocolate for each child, this being a special donation by Messrs Cadbury, Fry, Hudson. Sir Fabian and Lady Ware, who spent a highly enjoyable afternoon with the children, were the recipients of mementos of the occasion. Lady helpers and a party of girls from the Otago Girls’ High School assisted members of the committee in attending to the wants of the children, whose happy faces as they left for their homes more than recompensed for the work of arranging the treat. Coloured paper hats and cake were other gifts which the youngsters received. In every respect the treat was a highly successful one.