WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16783, 26 August 1916, Page 11

WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

WOMDEUFUTj rkcord of usefulness. WORKING TO WIN TIIE WAR. EVERYONIO CAN ASSIST. The Otngo and Southland Women's Patriotic Association was paid a high, compliment tho other evening by a returned soldier. . lie 'tiaid lie considered that tho Utago Women's Patriotic Association —as it tlieii was known—was tho Main Body. Tile compliment, however, was fully deserved. As a matter of fact, tho Otago Women's Association was formed on August 9, 1914,—before tho Main Expeditionary Force was constituted. And who will say that the women of Otago and Southland have not pcrionncd their duty to tho Empire as bravely,and nobly as the soldiers who have gone from our shores to fight on land and sea? At tho outset tho women determined that there was_ nothing they could not do—that no_ difliculties would debar them from providing equipment and comforts for our soldiers. They have not faltered in this determination. A thousand and one calls have been made oil them —some at tho Fhortest notice-—but never oncu have they failed to respond to the demand. Ix>ng hours have had to bo worked, but to-day wo lind the women of tho association as enthusiastic, as energetic, as self-sacrilicing, and as far-seeing as on the day in August, 1914, when they met to form tho body which has done so much for out- men. Miss Stewart (president), Mrs Park and Mrs Hayward (vice-presi-dents), Mrs Theomin (hon. treas.), Mrs J. A. Johnstone {principal buyer), and Miss Burt (hon. see.) were tho initial office-bearers. They still hold office, and their industry and organisation have placed their association right in tho forefront of any similar institutions in tho dominion. Every woman in Otago and Southland is considered to bo a member of tho association. Everyone can help. Tho rooms in tho Early Settlers' Hall are wide open to workers. Those unable to attend tho rooms can be associated with tho many branches spread over tho two provinces, or can make articles in their own homo and forward them to headquarters. ' WHAT THE ASSOCIATION HAS DONE. So multitudinous are the directions in which the association has worked to supply equipment, comforts, entertainments, etc., that it is really difficult to convey tho magnitude of its efforts. From August, 1914, to November of that year, tho association sent out. 32.425 articles of equipment; from November to December 3-0, 1915, 16,960 articles were despatched; and from .December to date, 33,000 more articles have been sent on. In July, 1915, an. emergency appeal was made from Wellington asking how many hospital beds tho association could equip. Within one week the association had forwarded the equipment for 43 beds, each set containing 31 articles. Another urgent call was mado in the same month. Tho Defence Department wanted 14 beds for the ■ meningitis "contacts" who were isolated at Wakari Tho afternoon of the day the call was received tho association placcd the ,14 beds in tho home, with bedding complete, besides six nightingales, a dozen pairs of socks, and a quantity of old linen. When tho Willoclira arrived with eases of smallpox on board tho association assisted tho Defence authorities by providing at an hour or two's notice sufficient bedding, etc., for the men who were isolated on Quarantine Island. Socks! Thousands of these have been sent to the front. Leather waistcoats! Some 6192 —enough for every man in the Otago and Southland military district—have been manufactured and forwarded to tho men. (No wa : stcoats, however, will bo required for men for this ensuing winter.) Jams! Twelve thousand tins is tho tally to-day. Welcomes to all the_ returned men, entertainments to those going away! There is no need to enumerate these—they are well known to tho people of Otago and Southland, and the soldiers themselves havo been lavish in their appreciation of tho kindness sh'own them. Tobacco for_ tho soldiers, cholera belts, the association's activities in managing tea rooms, and thus helping to swell the funds, equipment for Kitchener's army, Belgium and British Relief Funds, —it is really impossible to enumerate all the articles turned out. Tho success achieved by tho members of tho association in the management of the tea rooms which havo been given over to their control is, however, worthy of special mention. And the women aro striving more earnestly than ever to improvo on their wonderful past record. Ever since tho beginning of the war tho association has also assisted in every way in providing necessaries in tho \vny_ of clothing, etc., for our wounded soldiers. From time to timo cases of Hospital requirements havo been forwarded _ to hospitals in Egypt, and Great Britain, whero Now Zealand soldiers aro lying, such as Pont do Koubbeh, Walton on Thames, Brockenhurst, etc. A "THOUGHTFUL" PARCEL. Each Otago and Southland; soldier is given what, is termed a troopship kit a day or two before he lands at his destination. The women consider tho men require a new outfit after the long voyage—it enables them to land with a fresh supply. Tho outfits, which 'are put in charge of an Otago officcr, comprise: 2 pairs socks, 1 woven belt, 2 handkerchiefs, 2 service bags, 1 soap bag, 1 hoidalb (when considered necessary), 1 housewife, 1 tea towel. Also incliided in file parcel is a smaller parcel containing a bottle of embrocation, a bottle of castor oil. a liquorice stick, cinnamon, and boot laces. Over 3000 parcels have been forwarded this year. DIVERSE ASSISTANCE. No fewer -than 479 eases of goods—of an average value of £25 a case—have been forwarded for British and Belgian relief, for Russiau prisoners, and for naval dopendents. Some of the cases actually contained goods of a value of £100. _ Tho association also took an activo part, in conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Society for tho Health of Women and Children, in securing funds for Lady French's effort to help tho wives of British soldiers and sailors. RETURNED SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL. The soldiers who havo returned sick or wounded and have had to bo taken to the Hospital, tiro looked after by a subcommittee appointed by the association. This sub-committee collccts dainties, and sweets which are calculated to tempt the appetities of the invalids,' and these are taken to the Hospital every Wednesday and Saturday. DOMINION GIFT PARCELS SCHEME At the recent conference of representatives of the association of tho dominion, held in Wellington-, it was decidcd to inaugurate a dominion gift parcels scheme. Dunedin, Canterbury, Wellington, and Auckland are to co-operate in sending 22,000 gift parcels every,month to France, and 1800 parcels to Egypt. Tho quota from Otago and Southland for Franco will lie 5500 parcels; for Egypt, 450 parcels. Tho Jocul association will see to it that our quotas are fully subscribed, and the general public will have to do its share. fvich parcel will contain goods of the value of 2s 6cl. A printed card is enclosed with each gift, stating the name of tho donor, who may also send a short message to tho soldier who is to receive the gift. It has been decided to make tho October parcel a Christmas parcel, but it will bo of the value of 5s instead of the usual 2s 6d. CHRISTMAS GIFTS. livery man or woman who forwards 5s to tho association will havo the gratification of knowing that it represents a Christmas gift to a soldier at tho front. OUR PRISONERS. Tho association has now arranged to send parcels once or twice a month to the New Zealand prisoners in Turkey. These number 20, anVl their full names aro in the - possession of tho association. This work is to be carried on in conjunction by Otago and Southland. Canterbury, Wellington. and Auckland, each province supplying one quarter of the number of parcels required.. MEN IN ENGLAND. Shirts, undershirts, and socks aro asked for by the London Ladies' Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association (Miss H. Mackenzie, hon. sec.), to bo used at their discretion. The members of the committee meet, the boys on arrival oil furlough, and see that they havo suitable lodgings, and endeavour to send them back to the trenches warmly clad. Tho local association has arranged to be resoonsible for a fourth share with the other dominion centres, as arranged at a conference in Wellington. THE CHILDREN. This article would not be oomploto without reference to tho wonderful work accomplished by tho school children, who,

•Jfl sinco tho beginning of the war, havo assisted nobly through tho association in the work of providing equipment and comforts for tho Now Zealand soldiers. So highly has their work been appreciated by the Executive that it decided somo weeks ago, on receipt of the splendid offer from the Lawrence Horticultural Society to provido enough flowers for a Daffodil Day to he held in Dunedin early in October, to devote tho wholo of tho proceeds to assist tho different schools to provido material to continuo their valuablo work.