“INDEED THRILLED”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3282, 30 June 1943, Page 6

“INDEED THRILLED”

PEOPLE IN ENGLAND GALWAY GUILD WORK CLOTHES FROM NEW ZEALAND Gratitude to New Zealand for the help given to the people of Great Britain through the cases of clothes sent by the Lady Galway Guilds from throughout the Dominion is expressed in the following letters which have been received by the Coromandel Ladbeen received by the Coromandel Lady Galway Guild from England. Extract from letter received from the W.V.S. for Civil Defence, London, dated November 21, 1941:— “On behalf of the Women’s Voluntary Services, I have great pleasure in enclosing you the official receipt for nine cases of clothing we have just received. “Every time I write to you it makes it all the more difficult for us to express the gratitude we feel for the help we are receiving from New Zealand. Without the wonderful help which is arriving in this country from the Dominions we would not be in such a wonderfully strong position as we are to-day. “All the support of the Dominions has such an inspiring effect on the morale of the people. Thanking you once again.” “Blitzed” Cities Aided Extract from letter received from W.V.S. Regional Clothing Store, Bristol, England, dated October 6, 1941. “We here in the South-Western Region of England, feel we would so much once again, like to convey our deepest gratitude to all those kind and generous contributors to Lady Galway’s Fund in New Zealand, who continue to pour over to us all these beautiful comforts and clothes which are continually arriving. “Ke know that such a flow of generosity is not made without great personal sacrifices and please- believe me when I say how much we appreciate this -and the kind thoughts of us. We here in this region, have the “bltzed” cities of Plymouth and Bristol in our area, and have had to alleviate a great deal of distress, >so you can imagine how we have welcomed youi- gifts.. “I think you would feel well repaid if you could see as we do the joy and comfort these things bring to many a sad home.” Work of W.V.S. Extract from letter received from the Dowager Marchioness of Reading, 0.8. E. Chairman W.V.S. for Civil Defence. “Our letters to you in the past year have concerned chiefly the use which we have made of the clothing you have sent us. I feel however, now the end of the year is approaching, you may be interested to hear something more of what W.V.S. does in addition to the work for the relief of civilian distress which you have supported so generously.

“We have now 950,000 members of which a quarter are active members of the Civil Defence Services, either ambulance drivers or air wardens. The ambulance drivers are prepared to drive through streets blocked by debris and covered with broken glass carrying casualties to hospitals and first-aid posts. “The collection of salvage would not be an economic proposition were it not for the voluntary help. W.V.S. members drive round rural districts, collecting rags, paper, metal and food scraps, then take it to a depot to be sorted out. Even the children are salvage minded, the ‘Cog Scheme’ teaches them to be officers in their own home. When they become efficient they are given a badge and keen rivalry for these badges means that many scraps are saved which otherwise would be thrown into the rubbish heap. W.V.S. has played its part in all types of communal feeding, the mobile canteens have been used for a variety of objects. As the Coventry Canteen turned out one air raid, a child’s voice was heard in the darkness. “I tell you it is the W.V.S; they always come out, my mother said so.” Sympathy and Help

“The women who work in the rest centres and clothing depots see the heart-breaking side of this war against women and children. I am constantly being told most touching stories of incidents that have occurred after a big blitz. One father came up to the table with the overcoats on it and whispered ‘Lady, give the best coat to the boy, he’s starting his first job, and must make a good impression on his pals, he lost the lovely new suit his mother had got him before we were blitzed.’

“On behalf of the members of the W.V.S.' I would like to send you my very'best wishes for Christmas, and the Ndw Year which we face with ever-growing confidence, greatly en-

couraged by your sympathy and help.” Housewives’ Service Extract from letter received from W.V.S. for Civil Defence, London, dated October 28, 1941. “I am very pleased indeed to be able to tell you we have just received four consignments of clothing. We are indeed thrilled to received these wonderful expressions, of your generosity and would confirm if such confirmation were necessary the splendid effort which New Zealand is making to help win the war. “I cannot emphasise too much the importance of the work you are doing. It is so essential to the morale of the country that everyone suffering as a result of the air raids should be re-clothed at the earliest possible moment, and the fact that the people from so far .away can think of them in their hour of need, brings the shocked people back to reality and does much to help ug in our task of comforting them. “One of the most important, although least spectacular of W.V.S. activities is the ‘Housewives Service’ whereby every road has one good neighbour. This woman has been trained in elementary first aid and always has a kettle boiling during air raids for that welcome cup of tea. One also keeps a list of the people living in the road and their whereabouts in the house. This often has saved lives, as the civil defence workers know where to dig, thus saving many precious hours. This work is something every woman can do.” Delightful Clothing Extract from letter received from W.V.S. for Civil Defence dated September 30, 1941. “I cannot tell you how much we appreciate your ever-growing aid to this country. Needless to say these very large shipments have been sent all over the country and I can assure you there is not a village which has not had samples of the delightful clothing you are sending us. It is such an enormous joy to the people to receive gifts which are being sent overseas and to know that in their time of need they have so many friends all over the world, who are thinking of them and expressing their generosity in such a concrete way. “I cannot emphasise too often or too strongly how important it is for the people to be rg-clothed as soon as possible' after a raid whether it be children who have been badly shocked and are immediately taken into rural districts after having gone through most dreadful experiences, or, whether it is the workers who must at all costs get back to the factories in order that the country’s output should not be held up for a single day. They are all in need of a kind word and something to help regain their selfassurance. “We over here are thrilled to read of the exploits of your troops in the Middle East, and their bravery, although not surprising us fills us with admiration..”