DOMINION STOCKING LEAGUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 50

DOMINION STOCKING LEAGUE

ANNUAL EXHIBITION OF WORK. Once again the work done by the members of the Dominion Stocking League was laid out for inspection in the Hanover Street Baptist Church Hall, prior to the articles being packed for transport to England. The exhibition once more proved what loving hands can do with east off stockings, woollen underwear, etc. The array of articles—mostly for children’s wear—was indeed remarkable, both as regards numbers and neatness of make up. A large number of people were present, and everyone was unanimous in praise and admiration of the noble work being carried out by the members of the Dominion Stocking League. A verse of the National Anthem having been sung, Sir George Fenwick, who presided, in the course of his address, said he could not help feeling that m work like that of the Stocking League there-was always a willingness on the part of the community to help to the very best of _ its power.—(Applause.) They had seen this demonstrated over and over again during the war, (he work done having been simply magnificent, and in these days of comparative peace, as he might put it, there was still that sentiment that the people were bound to do their best to help in such philanthropic work as that done by the Stocking League. So they came there, and they found a collection of goods which was simply astounding.—l Applause.) Let them just look at one table. He understood that on it were 107 articles, the whole of them worked bv one woman.— (Applause.) There they saw evidence of magnificent work, and he was quite sure that they all owed their best thanks to that lady for the example she bad set. —• (Applause.) During the year goods had been sent Home in the usual way to the High Commissioner, and they had been sent by him to the various institutions. It was unfortunate that certain of the goods had disappeared. Merchants in New Zealand also had an experience of these thefts—scarce'y any cases came out intact. The quantity of goods that were -stolen were simply astounding. One Dunedin merchant had imported some valuable goods, to the value of about £3OOO, and the whole of them bad been stolen, and the cases filled up with rubbish. He said that it was a most deplorable state of affairs that people had so little regard for the property of others. As regards the goods which the league had sent Home some of them %ad been forwarded to Sister Kathleen Tor the West Mam Mission, and others to the British Soldiers and Sailors’ Families Association. Sir George, in conclusion, said that he had come there that day with the very greatest pleasure. It was always a pleasure to him to help these philanthropic institutions. When they looked round and saw the magnificent selection of goods, made out of old stockings, he felt that they had seen something which must make them very proud of the Dominion Stocking League.— (A pplause.) The Rev. Tuljoeh Yuille and the Rev. Knowles Kemptan also spoke, the former giving some impressions of the slums of Glasgow, and the latter thanking Mrs J. J. Clark (the president of the league), who had referred to the assistance given to the workers and officers. Bir_ George Fenwick then declared t.he exhibition open for inspection. He hoped that next year the league would be a bio to announce a record of even greater success than the fine achievement of the past year.