“DIGGERS’” GIFTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 4

“DIGGERS’” GIFTS

TO “DIGGEES' ” CHILDREN

800 PARCELS DISPATCHED

WHOLESALE HAPPINESS

The annual distribution of Christmas gifts by the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association, to the children of unemployed “Diggers,” was successfully carried out on Monday by a committee of the association’s members, under the supervision .of Mr G. B. 'Carter. The Abercorn Hall, which was the headquarters of the scheme, presented an unusually busy scene during the day, and bv nightfall the association had'an assurance that each of the .parcels made up for distribution in and around Gisborne had .been delivered to its intended recipient. In all, 800 parcels were prepared and dispatched, and in each parcel was an assortment of gifts nicely balanced as ro utility and entertainment values. Of the 800 parcels made up this' year, about 500 were sent to addresses within easy reach of the Gisborne headquarters of the scheme. The balance went to country centres for delivery, and committees of returned .men in various parts of the country and Coast districts saw to their reaching their proper destinations. Free transport for the gifts destined for country children was accorded to the assoeiatibn by motor services and other transport agencies, and in the town distribution .the use of a car placed at the disposal or the association by Mr T. Haisman during a part of the day was mud appreciated. A number of “Diggers” were engaged in the work of town and suburban distribution, and all gave their services willingly, the joy with which the parcels were greeted in scores of households being sufficient recompense for the efforts put forward on behalf of unemployed ex-service men’s families.

In connection with the scheme, the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association received a very gratifying degree of financial support, from various sources. A number of donations were forthcoming from men now in regular employment, but formerly on the unemployed list, their contributions being in the way of acknowledgment of the happiness given to their children in recent years 'under the R.S.A. gift scheme. * There are a number of individual citizens who are interested in the scheme, and who .annually make contributions to the cost; and certain businesses and firms also contribute regularly. The association has always refrained from making q public appeal for donations to the Christmas gift fund, and so far has managed to carry on with the amounts forthcoming from purely unsolicited donations, plus a small amount from the general funds of the association.

Of particular value in connection with this year’s scheme was the direct, assistance given by members of the Gisborne Business ‘ Women’s Club, a group of these ladies participating in the arduous work of preparing the parcels prior to the date ol' dispatch.