GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16327, 6 September 1916, Page 8

GIFTS FOR THE TROOPS

WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC WORK-

CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES.

The Women's Patriotic League already has well in hand the matter of Christmas gifts for the men on active service, and in order to ensure that the full quota of good things goes forward from the Auckland Province, the Mayoress, Mrs. J. H. Gunson, has issued an appeal to every man, woman and child to help supply each Now Zealand soldier with a Christmas gilt. Varying forms of the gift parcel will .be sent to different localities. The approximate value of each gift will be 5s and 6000 are required from Auckland. These will take the form of a Christmas box to France and Samoa, and a Christmas " billy " to Egypt and to prisoners of war, similar to those forwarded by the league last year. Included with every gift will be a postcard of local views. As the work of packing must commence in a few weeks' time in order to ensure despatch in October, the Mayoress specially requests that all donations bo forwarded as promptly as possible. A number of subscriptions havo already been received by tho secretary, Miss Spedding, and 200 parcels have been promised from tho Thames district. Letters from the front frequently emphasise tho fact that sweets and small parcels of things good to eat are most acceptable to the men, and the Christmas gift will contain a liberal assortment of these things, in addition to useful articles such as handkerchiefs, writing tablets, cigarettes, etc.

Although tho work of the league has centred during tho last few months upon the Dominion gift scheme, activities during the past year havo embodied a splendid amount of work in othcr_dircctions. Tho goods sent to the New Zealand camps during the year include over a ton of Christmas puddings, and articles of practical uso or amusement of every description, from oil stoves to ping-pong sets. Over 18,000 magazines and books have been forwarded for the men on transports, while many thousands of hussifs and garments of all descriptions, gam»s, music, and per sonal luxuries have beon supplied to tho men on service, and in hospitals and convalescent homes in New Zealand. In addition to this, the members of the central and branch leagues have largely assisted in the efforts to raise funds for the cause of the allies, and large quantities of goods have also been sent to hospitals in England through the St. John Ambulance Bngado and other organisations.