New Zealand School Children’s Annual Gift Dinner to the Poor of the Motherland

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIII, Issue 285, 17 November 1923, Page 9

New Zealand School Children’s Annual Gift Dinner to the Poor of the Motherland

CJINCE the year 1910 invitations have been sent to the scholars of the schools of the Dominion, through their teachers, to help to provide Christmas dinners for the poor children of the Motherland, so that, on that great day of “Goodwill to men,” they also could have “a Merry Christmas.” Many of those poor little chaps look forward with a great longing to the annual treat from the children of New Zealand. “Harry Clark” last year, on behalf of the boys of St. George the Martyr (London), sent thanks to you for your kind thought, and said: “We had a happy day and plenty of roast beef and vegetables, tweets, custards, buns, oranges and crackers.” The London “Times,” January 3rd, said: “1100 poor children of London were yesterday the guests of the school children of New Zealand, and their Christmas dinner was eaten at the Guildhalf. The fund: had been collected by the Rev. F. W. Whibley, of Ormondville, and sent to the Church Army, who selected the guests. Sir James Allen, High Commissioner of New Zealand, was not well enough to attend, a. be did in 1921, but was represented by his daughter, Mrs. Montgomery, on behalf of New Zealand. A portion of the funds also provided dinners at Chatham, Birmingham, Brighton, Sheffield and other town ' . His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand is most pleased to hear the snccer.-s attending lact year's appeal and gives us his approval and good wishes for this year. The unemployment consequent on unsettled trade has made our relief work more nece :arv than *evei .John Bull is ever grateful to those who help to reliev e the taxpayer of the heavy burden: < a used by unem ployment. We all remember how the lathers of our rising generation fought shoulder to boulder with those whose children we are now helping. Lady Jellicoe is also keenly interested in our homes for “Motherless Children of Ex-Service Men.” We expect this branch of our work will require assisting to the tune of £IO,(MX) this year. In the past New Zealand has helped in this particular work, because many sheepfarmers in Hawke’s Bay have sent their black and odd wool to their agents for sale for the Church Army. If each could spare, say, one fleece of wool, how m uch the total would help to maintain and educate these “children of the Empire,” whose fathers were comrades-in-arms of our present Governor while as Admiral of the Fleet, they with, him, were keeping our trade routes open. Lady Jellicoe would be greatly pleased to hear that this method of help spread among the many bv means of a fleece of wool will be taken up heartily. The Vicarage. F. W. WHIBLEY, Ormondville. Hon. Secretary Church Army in N.Z TO THE HON. SECRETARY, CHURCH ARMY, ORMONDVILLE, H.B. Dear Sir, — In enclose Donation from Seholars of Schoo towards the 1923 Christmas Dinner for I’oor Children. (Signed) Head Teacher Please receive donation towards the 1923 Xmas dinner from