WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3259, 30 August 1916, Page 43

WOMEN'S PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

WONDERFUL RECORD OP USEFULNESS. WORKING TO WIN THE WAR. The Otago and Southland Women's Patriotic Association was paid a high compliment the other evening by a returned soldier. He said he considered that tho Otago Women's Patriotic Association —aa it then was known —was tho Main Body. The compliment, however, was fully deserved. As a matter of fact, tho Otago Women's Association was formed on August 9, 19L4, —before the Main Expeditionary Force was constituted. And who will say that the women of Otago and Southland have not performed their duty to the Empire as bravely and nobly as the soldiers who have gone from our shores to fight on land and sea? At the outset the women determined that there was nothipg they could not do—that difficulties would debar them from providing equipment and comforts for our soldiers. They have not faltered in this determination. A thousand and ono calls have been made on them —some at tho shortest notice —but never once have they failed to respond to the demand. Long hours have had to be worked, but to-day wo find the women of the association as enthusiastic, as_ energetic, as self-sacrificing, and as far-seeing as on tho day in August, 1914, when they met to form the body which has clone so much for our 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. sec.) were the initial office-bearers. They still hold office, and their industry and organisation have placed their association right in the forefront of any similar institutions in tho dominion. Every woman in Otago and Southland is considered to be a member of tho association. Everyone can help. The rooms in the Early Settlers' Hall are wide open to workers. Those unable to attend the rooms can be associated with the 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 the magnitude of its efforts. From August, 1914, to November of that year, the association sent out 32,4-25 articles of equipment; from November to December 30. 1915, 46,960 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 the association could equip. Within one week tho association had forwarded the equipment for 43 beds, each set containing 31 articles. Another urgent call wj3 made in the same month. The Defence Department wanted 14 beds for tho meningitis "contacts" who were isolated at Wakari Tho afternoon of the day the call was received the association placed the 14 beds in the home, with bedding complete, besides six nightingales, a dozen pairs of socks, and a quantity of old linen. When the Willochra arrived with cases of smallpox on board the association assisted the 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 the men. (No wa-'steoats, however, will be required for men for this ensuing winter.) Jams I Twelve thousand tins is the 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 the people of Otago and Southland, and the soldiers themselves have been lavish in their appreciation of the kindness shown them. Tobacco for the Boldiers, 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 Belief Funds, —it is really impossible to enumerate all tho articles turned out. The success achieved by the members of the association in tho management of tho tea rooms which havo been given over to their control is, however, worthy of special mention. And the women are striving more earnestly than ever to improve on their wonderful past record. Ever since the beginning of the war tho association has also assisted in every way in providing necessaries in the way of clothing, etc., for our wounded soldiers. From time to time cases of Hospital requirements havo been forwarded to hospitals in Egypt, and Great Britain, where New Zealand soldiers are lying, such as Pout do Koubboh, 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 the men require a new outfit after the long voyage—it enables them to land with a fresh supply. The outfits, which arc put in charge of an Otago officer, comprise: 2 pairs socks, 1 woven belt, 2 handkerchiefs, 2 service bag?, 1 soap bag, 1 holdall (when considered necessary), 1 housewife, 1 tea towel. Also included in tho parcel is a smaller parcel containing a bottle of embrocation, abottlo of castor oil, a liquorice stick, cinnamon, and boot laces. Over 3000 parcels have boon forwarded this year. DIVERSE ASSISTANCE. No fewer than 470 oases of goods—of an average value of 'J2S a case—havo been forwarded for British and Belgian relief,

for Russian prisoners, and for naval dependents. Some of the cases actually contained goods of n valuo of £IOO. _ Tho association also took an active 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 the wives of British soldiers and sailors.

RETURNED SOLDIERS IN HOSPITAL. The soldiers who have returned sick or wounded arid have had to be taken to tho Hospital, are looked after by a subcommittee appointed by the association. This sub-cominitteo collects dainties, and sweets which aro calculated to tempt the appetities of the invalids, and these are taken to tho Hospital every Wednesday and Saturday. DOMINION GIFT PARCELS SCHEME At the recent conference of representatives of the association of the dominion, held in Wellington, it was decided 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. The quota from Otago ami Southland for Franca will bo 5500 parcels; for Egypt, 450 parcels. The local association will see to it that our quotas aro fully subscribed, and the general public will have to do it* share. Each parcel will contain goods of tho value of 2s od. A printed card is enclosed with eaeli gift, stating the name of the donor, who may also send a short message to the soldier who is to receive the gift. It has been decided to make the October pared a Christmas parcel, but it will be of the value of 5:: instead of tho usual 2s 6d. CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

Every man or woman who forwards 5s to the association will have? the gratification of knowing that it represents a Christmas gift to a soldier at the front. OUR PRISONERS. The association has now arranged to send parcels once or twice a month to tho New Zealand prisoners in Turkey. These number 20, and their full names arcin the possession of the 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 are asked for by the London Ladies'Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association (Miss H. Mackenzie, hon. sec), to be used at their discretion. Tho members of the committee meet tho boys on arrival on furlough, and see that they have suitable lodgings, and endeavour to send them back to tho trenches warmly clad. Tho local association has arranged to bo responsible for a fourth share with the other dominion centres, as arranged at a conference in Wellington. THE CHILDREN. This article would not be complete without reference to tho wonderful work • accomplished by the school children, who. since tho beginning of tho war. have assisted nobly through the association in tho work of providing equipment and comforts for the Now Zealand soldiers. So highly has their work been appreciated by tho Executive that it decided some weeks ago, on receipt of tho splendid offer from the Lawrence Horticultural Society to provide enough flowers for a Daffodil Day to be held in Dunedin early in October, to devote the whole of the proceeds to assist the different schools to provide material to continue their valuable work.

JOTTINGS. "Churches in France are just as numerous as are hotels in Kelson.'' writes a Nelson soldier. "France is said lo be not a reiigious country, but it is oertamiy not for the want of places to worship in. Whichever way you look tall spires can be seen, many within quite close distance of each. other." A letter received by a resident of Palmerston North last week from an officer in Egypt, stated that tho manager and several of the staff of Shepheard's Hotel, winch is well known to the New Zcaianders who have passed through Cairo, had been arrested on suspicion of being spier.. It is understood that Lieutenant-colonel J. J. Murphy, officer commanding the Ist (Canterbury) Regiment), will report at Trentham for active service in a week or two. Mr D. Morgan (Te Houka) has received a cablegram from his son, Rifleman J. E. Morgan, who recently (had his leg amputated as the result of a shell wound, and is now an inmate of Birkenhead Hospital, stating that he is progressing splendidly. Lieutenant-colonel A. C. Parker, of the Intelligence Department;, who is mentioned for good service in the despatches from Egypt, is the son of Mrs Parker (late of Oamaru, and nephew of Lord Kitchener. He formerly held a commission in the South Canterbury Volunteers, and for some years past has been Governor of Sinai, the peninsula in Egypt across which the Turks have been operating against the Canal. A resident of Fiji, in a letter to a Christchurch friend (reports the Press), says: "There is great rivalry amongst the Fijian natives to sec which district can give the most to help on with tho war. In tho Lau district the natives have collected enough money to buy two motor ambulances. The Rewa natives had a meeting to see what they could do, and it was decided to give an aeroplane. They will havo to raise £I6OO for it, and tho Tailevu natives have decided to raise enough money to buy four motor ambulances." The Copenhagen correspondent of the Express sends a story regarding tho illness of the Duke of Brunswick, the Kaiser's son-in-law, tho story, however, not being confirmed from any other source. "Tho Duke of Brunswick,'' says the correspondent, "who has been the victim of profound melancholia since the early days of the war, is now declared to bo hopelessly insane. His mental collapse was the result. of a trying experience while commanding a detachment of German troops on the Russian frontier when he witnessed the tragic fate of his men, nil of whom were swallowed up in a. treacherous marsh." Captain J. L. Williams, the famous Welsh international throo-quarter Rugby player, a member of tho British team which visited New Zealand in 1908, has died of wounds in Franco. Our London correspondent writes that William Rraithwaite Manson, only son of Mr and Mrs William Manson, late of Dunedin. and grandson of Mr and Mrs Joseph

Braithwaite, of this city, was killed in action on his birthday, the Ist July. Ho had joined the. army in January of this year. Born in New Zealand, he was brought to England by h;s parents when quite a child, and at a very early ago he displayed marked musical talent. He was the first New Zealand boy who had the privilege of admission to the world-famed choir of the Chapel Royal, St. James, and his general education was completed at tho special school in connection with the Ohapcl Royal, The choristers have many privileges, .and they are the recipients of lasting presents from royalty on occasions of special importance. Intending to make music his proiession, Mr Manson joined the Royal Academy of Music, and before ho was 18 years of age he was appointed Professor of Harmony. Ho gained three medals —for harmony, playing at sight, and singing. In July, 1915, he was awarded the Charles Lucas prize for composition, and half the Olivena-Prcscott prize, and only this year, after joining the London Scottish, the Battison-Hayncs prize for composition (piano, violoncello) was awarded him.

Mr Duncan Rutherford has leased the hall at Hanrncr Springs, and has completely fitted it up as an amusement resort for the soldiers at the Queen Alary Hospital. At the Orokoiuii Hali on the 17th inst. a farewell social was tendered to Messrs R. Stuart and 13. Bcatty, two members of the stall', who were on their final leave from Featherston Camp. There was a large attendance of friends from Waitati ana surrornding districts. Mr Stuart was presented with a handsome pair of field glasses, and Mr Beatty with a luminous wristlet watch.

Major B. S. Jordan, of Rangiora, is engaged training troops on Salisbury Plain, England. Mr H. lan Sb'mson, of Hawke's Bay, lias received advice that liis youngest brother, Mr Herbert Simson, has been appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps in England. Information was received on Thursday (says the Mataura Ensign) that Private Andrew T. Day, of Waikaka, had succumbed to wounds received in action in France some weeks ago. Private Day, who was a nephew of Mrs L. Day, East Gore, was one of three others who left Waikaka in November last as one of the Tenth Reinforcements, and left the dominion for the front on March 4. The injury which caused his death was a bayonet wound in the head. Private Day was the second son of Mrs and the late Mr John Day, Waikaka. He was educated at the Waikaka School, and worked in his brother-in-law's store. He was a fine type of young fellow, and was widely respectedMr George Squire, of Fairview, after having failed to get any word from his eldest son, an electrical engineer, who has been interned in Ruhleben Camp since the outbreak of the war, received a post-card from him on the 19th (says the Timaru ilerald) stating that he was still at Ruhleben. safe and sonnd. The authorities in Germany are evidently allowing money sent to prisoners in the camp to go through, as the son mentions that ho had received the three sums of money sent him by his father. Mr Squire, jun., also says that his wife was permitted to visit him once a month. He was kept very busy in the camp, but things were better there than people here seemed' to think.

THE NEW ZEALAND DESERTER. WELLINGTON. August 28. In consequence of certain reports which reached the authorities on Saturday, a. force of police, supported by a body of artillerymen from Featherston camp, proceeded to one of the Wairarapa districts to maintain order in the case of a threatened demonstration against the family and property of the man whose identity was suspected in connection with the case of desertion at the front. On their arrival a considerable croud of people had assembled, and there was evidence of some excitement, but nothing happened. The Government does not. feel justified in publishing the man's name pending the receipt of details from Home, which have been asked for. Steps are being taken, however, to deal with the matter .as soon as the information is available. The Hon. Mr Allen thinks it will not be necessary to intern the relatives of the alleged deserter. The man's father, who is an old man, has been in the dominion for 32 years, and has a dairy farm in the Carterton district. •CARTERTON. August 28. There was great surprise here on Saturday night at the visit of a strong force of police and a military picket. The rumour of a projected riot did not start at Carterton, the first intimation being- the arrival of the police, and the military picket left on Saturday night. The police patrolled until Sunday night the grounds of a house where the alleged traitor's parents live, but everything was quiet, and the police- havenow left the town. ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE INCIDENT. AUCKLAND, August 23. A detailed description of the circumstances of the desertion of a soldier in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is given in a letter fronj Private J. Jack, of Auckland. Writing from a. London hospital, he states: "It was owing to the treachery of a Gorman born in New Zealand that our casualties were heavy at the end of June and the beginning of July. He was acting as a stretcher-bearer, and had obtained a good deal of information as to the location of batteries, etc. His ruse was rather clever. Looking over a. parapet, he made out that ho saw someone lying in 'No Man's Land,' and said that he would investigate. The members of his platoon thought him the essence of gameness as ho hopped over our parapet and crawled out. When about; half-way between the lines ho rose, and, waving a white flag, bolted to the GeriMn line. Everyone was so surprised that he was over the enemy parapet before a shot was fired.. From then on wo were bombarded with deadly effect." FIGHTING IN FRANCE. The fighting in Franco and Flanders since the beginning of August, 1914, has been terrific, and show:; no sign of abatement. As cm bo imagined, the strain on the French people has been very great. They are suffering in, evoiy conceivable way, and we hear many moving tales of their courage, patriotism, and powers of endurance under the most distressing circumstances. The French Red Cross is

doing a great work. It needs help very badly, and the local centro of the St. John Ambulance Association has arranged to take up a street collection on Friday, the whole of the proceeds to go to assisting our allies in their Hod Cross work. It is hoped to be able to send thorn a substantial sum.