16 Cases Of Clothes For Refugees Sent Away

Northern Advocate, 1 August 1940, Page 2

16 Cases Of Clothes For Refugees Sent Away

Sixteen large packing cases filled with a miscellany of clothing suitable for the equipping of many refugee families, were despatched from Whangarei today. They were the first fruits of much planning and doing by members of the Northland Lady Galway Patriotic Guild. The boxes are being sent fo the Now Zealand High Commissioner, in Loudon. who will distribute the contents as.he thinks fit. Since the Lady Galway Guild was first formed only n few weeks ago. needles have been busy making and repairing clothes for refugees, and there has been a constant stream of gifts to the main depot, which is situated in the old county council building Bank Street.

Contributions From Wide Area

Contributions have come front as far afield as Maungaturoto, Dargaville and the Far North.

Whangarei’s response to the clothes drive sponsored by postal officials was so generous that the rooms available were piled headhigh in garments. As one guild member put it: “We were swimming in clothes.” Extra room was made available by the Whangarei postmaster (Mr W. FI. L. Roberts), and since the drive last Saturday week. ladies have been working every day sorting and pack - i ng.

The first lorry load despatched today weighed 1 ton 3cwt, with more to follow.

Plenty Left

Even after the Ifi boxes had been moved, there still remained the equivalent of the stock of a well-pro-vided drapery establishment.

Much of this is to be distributed to district guilds for remaking and repairing.

Eyes opened wide in one street

when rows of children’s clothes were seen hanging from the line of

an elderly lady. The explanation for this phenomenon was that she had taken home a bundle to wash and dry before the little frocks were sent to London.

Although the majority of the articles forwarded to the guild are second hand, a number of quite unused articles have been received. Typical is the case of one lady who called yesterday.

An Example

She left some underclothing, purchased for her own use, but which she had found, on taking them home, was not the right size.

Instead of returning thorn to the shop, she presented them to the guild, and purchased another set for herself. Officials of the guiid today expressed their warmest thanks to the public of Northland for giving so generously, to the Post Office officials for assistance rendered in many ways and to Whangarei business people who donated boxes.

Especial mention was mack' of the help given by Mr C. R. Loatt in planing and preparing the boxes.

"It was indeed a labour of love on his part, and I have never seen wor.c more beautifully done." remarked one of the ladies.

Tefal weight of the clot ties railed today was 2 tons 2 owl 1 qr 8 ibs.