HELPING THE NEEDY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 6

HELPING THE NEEDY

NAVY LEAGUE PLAYS ITS PART AID TO DEPENDENTS In the broad general stream of assistance that flows smoothly from this Dominion to the British Isles, little is heard of the part played by the Navy League. That organisation, however, with others, is playing its part in rendering what help it can during Britain’s difficult period. Writing to Mrs Sutherland Ross, and expressing her heartfelt gratitude for food cases sent by the Otago branch of the Navy League, Mrs A. D. Orchard, the secretary of the Royal Friendly Union of Sailors’ Wives, England, has some interesting stories to tell. , ... Food and clothing, where possible, were mostly distributed among the children of ex-naval men or their wives and while these people were now scattered throughout tte length and breadth of the British Isles, the writer had a number of people who were able to place her in touch with those more urgently in need of help. One old lady, with a penchant for making apple dumplings (the old lady by the way, was only 91, and her young friend was 87) Mrs Orchard supplied with suet, apples, flour and all the necessary condiments to make her favourite pudding. In one of the cases despatched by the league was a quantity of honey, and this Mrs Orchard transferred to small bottles and distributed among, her “ family.” 1 The bulk of it, she said, was sent to children who had been ill or were ailing. Were there more of it. Mrs Orchard continued, the hospitals would not be so full. Nothing is wasted from the parcels which arrive. Even the sugar bag material is made up into shopping bags, aprons and so on, and dyed an appropriate colour. The wood of the packing case, too, was made into a kitchen cupboard and,a book shelf. The writer concludes her letter fc>y giving Mrs Ross some news of their Majesties’ silver wedding celebrations —and again sends many thanks to the Navy League for its “wonderful helping hand."