Lady Galway Guild

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 188, 9 August 1941, Page 5

Lady Galway Guild

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT At the monthly meeting of the Lady Galway Guild, Mrs. G. C. Petersen (convener) presented the first annual report of the Palmerston North branch of that guild. The first committee meeting of the branch was held on Augu«* (3, 1940, and work commenced on August 9. Through the generosity of Messrs. Collinson and Cunninghame, Ltd., a spacious and admirably suitable room was made available, free, for the duration of the war, in Kingsway Building, King Street, and there the branch has steadily carried on its work during the past 12 months. The guild had been singularly fortunate in the number and enthusiasm of tho ladies who had come forward to assist in the important work, and regards with

great satisfaction the volume of work done, which, it was felt, had resulted in a substantial contribution to the city’s war effort.

The first task of the members was to transport to the guild room the vast amount of clothing and material which resulted from the postmen's drive. This was all sorted out. In addition to their many other activities the members had made over, repaired and packed for despatch to headquarters nearly the whole of these articles had been pro-

pared for dispatch. These articles included such items as 492 -women’s top coats, 503 frocks, 211 skirts, 110 men’s top coats, S 7 men’s cardigans, four complete layettes, as well as other clothing of all descriptions. The great amoum. o/ work done by the members was apparent when it was realised that nearly all these articles had been prepared in the guild room, and not handed in finished and ready for packing. That the opportunity the room had given to Women to aid in war work had been readily accepted was shown by the output.

In addition, the branch was indebted to the following organisations for support: Tho Lutheran Guild, Wliakarongo Institute, Oroua Downs Institute, Aokautere Institute, Glen Oroua Institute, Russell Street and Terrace End School children, Mrs. Furneaux’s Group, Feilding Group, Mesdames Harker and Bee’s Bridge Club, Townswomen’s Guild, the Knitting and Hussifs branch, as well as innumerable individual friends and workers for donations and assistance.

The members of the guild had assisted the Women ’s Patriotic Committee on two flower days and had taken charge of the Patriotic Shop during two days in December last. During the floods in .May emergency calls were made on the guild and immediate asistance in donations of warm clothing were made to flood sufferers.

The Lady Galway Guild was the official distributing centre for the distribution of the Manawatu quota of footless socks to be finished off for the army, and portion of the workroom was lent to the Knitting and Hussifs Branch for this work. 4,632 completed pairs had passed through the guild room. During her farewell visit to Palmerston North, Lady Galway had visited the guild, inspected the work, and addressed the members. She had expressed herself as particularly gratified with the way in which the work of the guild had been carried on in Palmerston North. The appreciation from the founder of the guild proved an inspiration to the members.

The committee had been especially gratified at the reports received from Wellington headquarters, on the quality of the goods forwarded. During the past fortnight a layette from this branch had been on special exhibition at the N.Z. Lady Galway Guild rooms in Wellington, demonstrating that thd standard had been recognised. The guild had had a special display of goods in the window of Messrs. Collinson and Cunninghame, Ltd. in conjunction with the Manawatu Women’s Patriotic Committee, and this had been inspected and favourably commented upon by her Excellency, Lady NewalJ, during her recent visit to Palmerston North. All members of the committee were especially invited by her Excellency to be present at a social evening arranged in her honour. Special thanks were -due to the Ideal Dry Cleaning Service, Nielson’s Cleaning Co., Zenith Dry Cleaning Co., Ltd., Coo-ce Dry Cleaning Service, the laundry staff of the Public Hospital, for assistance, the City Council for supplying cases and attending to dispatch, and to All Saints’ Boy Scouts, under the

direction of Mr. L. Callis, for sorting of boots and shoes. Early this year the committee lost the services, through removal from Palmerston North, of Mrs. S. Orr, who ha«f given wonderful service as secretary, but fortunately Mrs. 11. Howea had come forward and filled the vacancy, to the eminent satisfaction of the members. Miss Dorian was elected to the committee to till the vacancy caused by Mrs. Orr’s departure.

In conclusion, Mrs. Petersen desired to thank Mrs. Mansford, chairwoman of the Manawatu Women’s Patriotic Com* mittee, who, in spito of the many de* mands on her time, had displayed unremitting interest in the progress of the guild, and whose work had proved an inspiration to every member. She also extended her sincere thanks to Mrs. W. H. Galbraith, secretary of the Manawatu Women’s Patriotic Committee, for her help at all times; to Mrs. H. Howes,

secretary of the branch, and to the members of the committee for their loyal support and co-operation during the past year. In the assurance of a continuance of that support, Mrs. Petersen felt that the guild might confidently expect to make during the comin.g year a still greater contribution to the city’s war effort.