CHINESE REFUGEES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 15 April 1939, Page 9

CHINESE REFUGEES

, ASSISTANCE FROM NELSON AN APPRECIATIVE LETTER Nurse Margaret North, daughter of Mr W. B. North, of Motupiko. who is a missionary in the Hangchow Hospital, Shina, has written as follows to Mrs J. Corder, secretary of the Ladies’ Committee of the Church Missionary ; Society : “We have just received the last of your sixteen cases, packed with parcels from friends all over New Zealand, and sent to us through the Church Missionary Society and the Red Cross. I feel I must write and tell you how very, very much your gifts are appreciated here. “I have just finished unpacking and distributing. The best of the ‘ld linen’ as you called it. is being re-made into hospital linen and garments to replace the still more worn out ones we are at present using. The warm secondhand garments are an absolute Godsend. especially coming just as they do in the middle of winter. Miss Woods has had the most of them and she could tell you of many a one who has been saved from freezing to death, thanks to these warm garments she has had to give them. “During the three worst winter months the different churches have made themselves responsible for a definite sum of money to enable work to be carried on in the different refugee centres Between 50 and 60 Christian Chinese women have given their services—and from the old clothes whicn could not be worn as they were, have made up over one thousand garments which have been distributed. I watched them at work one day cutting the best out of old cotton garments into uniform size; these were then sewn together and made into bolts of cloth, patchwork certainly, but no one minds these days. Two tailors had offered their services and provided sewing machines. From the bolts of material they cut out garments and machined them up—after which they were padded with cotton-wool in true Chinese style. Even the scraps of material were not wasted, for they were cut up into small pieces and used for padding Chinese cloth shoes. The situation here has certainly given us a greater opportunity for service Through co-operation of the International Red Cross and all the Christian churches here, who are engaged in relief work, there is a greater degree of Christian unity than ever before, and at the same time there has been a marked turning towards God of nonChristians ‘Though the front line lias been but three miles ?way for the last year, life behind these low walls goes on fairly normally and quietly. Things are not so pleasant when one goes out. though they have improved to what “Many of the public utilities, such as electricity, running water, motor bus and train services have been restored at least partially, and an increasing number of small shops are re-opening their doors. “Again, before 1 close. 1 should like to thank you all for your prayer and your gifts.’