LADY GALWAY GUILD

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1940, Page 10

LADY GALWAY GUILD

MEETING AT GREYMOUTH. A Grey district branch of the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild, recently instituted to provide clothing for refugees, was formed yesterday, when at the Greymouth Borough Council Chambers approximately 50 women attended a meeting convened by the Mayoress, Mrs. D. C. Kitch ingham. A central committee, comprising representatives of church and other organisations, was formed, and various matters in connection with ’ the effort, including arrangements for a “clothes drive” were finalised.

The Mayoress presided, and prior to the formation of the Guild, the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham) addressed the meeting. He said he was gratified to see such a large attendance, which, he said, would ensure the success of the Guild. The object of the organisation, he continued, was to provide clothing for refugees who were in areas not occupied by' enemy forces. The work was closely akin to that of the Red Cross, but did not come within the scope of the International Red Cross, which, he said, dealt with people in areas occupied by the enemy. Great Britain was flooded with refugees, and through the Guild, the women of New Zealand would assist the civilian population in England to. deal with the refugee problem, by the provision of clothing. He felt that the Guild would have the support of the Red Cross organisation. As Mr. Hayden, the Secretary of- the National Patriotic Council had stated, the work of knitting and sewing circles at present in being would be widened through the Guild, to cover the renovation and making of clothes. It was hoped that it would not be necessary to buy much new I material. Regarding the personnel of the committee to be elected, he said it was known that many women were members of both the Patriotic Society and the Red Cross, and it had been laid down strongly that wherever possible new personnel should be drawn upon so that the scope of the work would be widened, and all the effort not thrown on only a few people. It would be bet- I ter to elect people who were not I actively engaged in Patriotic or Red I Cross work, and it was also desir- I able that anyone elected should be I on the telephone or handy to it. I The Mayoress also welcomed all I present, and read several apologies I for absence. So far, said Mrs. Kit- I chingham, the West Coast had not I done very much in the way of an ef- I fort for the refugees, but she felt I that there was no doubt but that the I Guild would prove successful. She I and Mrs. Hannan had attended a Do- I minion-wide conference in Welling- I ton, where the objects of the Guild I were explained, and all present pro- I mised full support. It was proposed I to organise a central committee, | which would include representatives I from the country, and groups of wo- I men in both town and country would be formed to take up the work. The I Guild already had a depot in Grey- I mouth, and all goods would be for- I warded to that depot, while working I days would also be organised at the I depot. I

Mrs. J. W. Hannan said that she had visited the different districts in the County, and had received offers of wholehearted co-operation. The County women were already organising groups for sewing, and were getting their own material. So far as representation on the central committee was concerned, however, the country people would have great Acuity in getting to town on account of the petrol shortage. Arrangements had also been made for County lorries to bring in parcels to the depot. She emphasised that the goods were wanted as soon as possible. OFFICERS APPOINTED. Mrs. F. M. Dennehy was appoint-! ed Patron of the Guild. With the Mayoress as chairwo- 1 man, the following central committee was elected: Mesdames M. J.

Fogarty, G. Joyce, W. Haglund, G. G. Chisholm, Abbie, C. Millar, T. Collins, Mosley, Cameron, and Miss A. White, with representatives of country districts and several church organisations to be added. Mrs. Hannan will represent County interests in the meantime.

Miss* J. G. Hambleton was appointed secretary-treasurer, on the motion of Mesdames Kitchingham and Hannan.

Mrs. Kitchingham further explained that the work was not to be confined to children’s clothing. All kinds and sizes of garments were required. Clean clothes of all kinds would be welcomed at the depot. It was hoped to get a couple of machines for use in the depot, and members could go and work at the depot, or organise their own groups. Through an “old clothes drive” they should be able to get a great deal of material, which the various groups not actually working in the depot, could draw upon. She urged all present to organise working groups as soon as possible—the work was most urgent —and also asked those members of church and other organisations elected to the committee to start work for the Guild as soon as was practicable. Mr. Kettle had given his shop in Mawhera Quay, opposite Gibbs Motors, as a depot for the Guild, free of rent for the duration of the war, and an endeavour would be made to have the depot open every day. It was hoped to get all the material that was wanted for some time from the clothes collection. Any funds that were required could be secured from the Patriotic Council, but any particular ;roup that required money in small sums for new material could raise the funds by their own efforts. Any donations in money to the Guild had to go to the Patriotic funds. It was decided, on the motion of Mesdames Kitchingham and Fogarty,

that a clothes drive be organised for next week, from Monday to Saturday, all parcels of clothes to be forwarded to the Guild depot, or the secretary advised where They can be collected. It was also decided to endeavour to organise an effort through the schools.