LADY GALWAY GUILD.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 168, 15 June 1940, Page 11

LADY GALWAY GUILD.

APPEAL TO PUBLIC. An appeal for the practical assistance of everyone in New Zealand lor the great national effort to relieve the distress and suffering now being experienced by those unfortunate people whose countries had been overrun by the enemy tvas made by Her Excellency, Lady Galway, in a public address. . ■ ‘ Alter referring ,to the success, of various other patriotic efforts, Her Excellency said New Zealand had made an offer to provide comforts for the men on the trawlers, minesweepers and other small craft on the North Sea, and the offer was accepted. At the time it was made it was proposed that the work should be undertaken by the Lady Galway Guild, but the task of helping to provide for the countless thousands of refugees _ had assumed such proportions that it was decided that the work of providing for the men on small craft should be taken over by the AVar Council of the New Zealand Navy League, and this organisation was now actively engaged in that work. Contributions, added Lady Galway, could be sent to the nearest branch of the Navy League, or to its headquarters at 212 Lambton Quay, A\ r ellington. She then asked her hearers to picture the plight of a million and a-half refugees who had fled from the invaded areas to a more peaceful zone, and to realise the strain which this entailed on French families. It was to these poor refugees that aid must be sent. “If we are going to play our full part we must provide them with clothing. food, and comforts of all sorts. TcT help relieve this most urgent distress I make this earnest appeal _to the people of Neiv Zealand. The High Commissioner in London has told us that the greatest need at the moment is underwear and footwear, but we must plan for jnonths ahead, and good use can be made of any clothing that has value,” said Lady Galway. “Details of organisation are to lie discussed at a meeting between the central committee and the Mayoresses of the various cities and towns of the Dominion which is to take place at Government House on the morning of Wednesday next. This central committee is composed of the. Dominion presidents of women’s societies representing a total membership of 130,000 New Zealand women.”

It was hoped, said Lady Galway, that every woman in New Zealand would provide for the wants of one refugee. The co-operation of tradespeople was also invited. Slow-moving stock—much of it already out of fashion—would serve admirably and could either be given or sold at the lowest possible prices to those -wishing to give to the guild. “Action now is a Christian dutv. and your immediate response means help, relief and hope to countless thousands and, in the years to come, a strengthening of that bond of friendship and fellowship between the peoples of those nations on whom the future of civilisation now depends,” concluded Lady Galway.