LADY LIVERPOOL

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1294, 6 April 1918, Page 4

LADY LIVERPOOL

DEPOT NOTES. The Central Depot has been working most assiduously during the last month to ensure a continuous supply of "huckshce" (gift) parcels for the fighting forces of New Zealand. The parcels not only supply a refreshing welcome supplement to the armv rations, they spell "home" to our own' New Zealand lads. There is no gainsaving the fact that like the bird in the hand the New Zealand parcel up in the trenches is worth two —and more —of anything of problematical purchase in the deserted French villages or wastes of Palestine. The men's letters are the best answer as to the need of further support for the above fund. The officer in command of the gift section, Major Green, writing on January 30, 1918, acknowledging the arrival of 216 cases from the Canterbury, Westland, Marlborough area, inter alia says:— "In thanking you and your soe'ety for sending these parcels along, I might mention that they are appreciated more than ever now that food is so scarce and goods of equal quality are only procurable here at exorbitant prices, and then only in very small quantities." Another lad from Mesopotamia says, after thanking the society for his parcel:— "It is now two years since I left "God's Own," and many a time s'nee then I have offered up fervent thanks to the good ladies of New Zealand (CnrisichiTch narticularly) for their splendid parcels, which figuratively speaking, have more than once saved my life." We could 1111 the paper with such letters. The Militaire are not infallible, but judging by the voluminous quant'ty of acknowledgments the public can have no misgivings as to the organisation for the distribution of parcels when they reach the front. Prisoners of War. In this department there is also much encouragement to "Carry on." From Turkey and Germany there are evidences of the parcels sent through our organisation reaching the prisoners. From Aflon Kara Turkey, Beg. Davie (a prisoner of war) wr'tes:— "I have much pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of four very fine parcels sent by your society. Very many tl'enks for the same which were vcrv su'table to circumstances.—Yours, gratefully." Thousands of personal letters come from the brave lads themselves, and in the face of such appreciation we confidently ask our branches, schools, and the pubic generally for a continuous support of funds and g'fts to enable us to carry on while the war lasts. Nmw Zealand has the stuff the boys want, and a real right good gift parcel is the best "buck up" a soldier can have. Fortunatelv there is no discrimination in the distribution; it is general, and the "lonely soldier" comes in lor a remembrance which is more tangible than just "good wishes." The men in Mesopotamia write of the regular arrival of parcels. One from Bagdad, dated January 12. 1918, writes:— Addressing the President of the Lady Liverpool Fund— Dear Madam, —"I pen these few lines in deep appreciation to you and your committee for the glorious Christinas gift parcel Which I received from you. I tender to you all my heartfelt gratitude for your kindness, iiot only to myself, but to the rest of our little baud. Loud were the acclamations of delight 'from one and all.: on opening our respective parcels and find- ] ing the most useful contents therein. The I contents were "just the thing" for this climate.

"Thanking you once more for the many comforts we receive from the lands of yourself and vigorous committee. —Yours most gratefully." Sir Thos. Mackenzie writes from London, February 9, 1918, stating he lias had a communication from Sgt. W. T. Turton, conveying his appreciation of prov's'ons sent by our committee to him as a prisoner of war in Germany. Mr T. F.. Donne, secretary to the Prisoners of War Department, on January 2">, writes as follows:—

Dear Madam, —"I nm requested to forward to you an extract from a letter, dated November 30 last, written by Rflm. Joseph Mercer, a prisoner of war at Friedrichsfeld in Germany, to the High Commissioner, in which a special message of thanks is conveyed to tlie members of your committee. "I wish to say how grateful I am to New Zealand people and to you. I would particularly like to thank the Lady Liverpool Committee in Christchurch, New Zealand, for the parcel they have sent. I am well." The expenses of the society have increased proportionately as the cost of living increases, and though our primary objective is to help our men on the battlefields, it is also satisfactory to know most of the funds are expended in our own district. We require at least £3OO monthly for tinned tongues alone (one item contained in the assorted parcel) and correspondingly other items run into much money, and funds are urgently needed. During the past month the president lias visited the following branches and gave addresses on the work and needs of the fund:—Sheffield, Sehvyn Street, Marshland, Loburn, Springston, Kirwee, Beckcnham, Balcairn, Methven and Lyndhurst. Cases. —We are urgently in need of cases again, for gifts of these in any numbers we shall be grateful. The Depot has benefited by several efforts of sale. A party of Lyttelton ladies, under the able leadership of Mesdames F.. It. Curtis and Colin Cook organised a very successful Paddy's Market, which resulted In a cheque for £125 11/10 being handed in.

The United Howling, Tennis and Croquet Clubs' tournament brought £55 3/6 to the treasurer. The stall for the sale or cakes and sweets, organised by Mesdames Bingham, Wyatt and Bullock, assisted by a number of young ladies, realised £2O. The beautifully iced and decorated cakes given by her Excellency Lady Liverpool and Misses Blackmore and Gilmore, helped considerably to swell the fund. The winners of these were Mrs Cogan, Miss Quartermain and Mr Donald. The Linwood Croquet Club's tournament netted £:, 0/3. The Glee and Mandrigal Club sent us a cheque for £23 6/1, share of

opera. The thanks of the committee arc tendered to all who worked so hard to make above efforts so successful, also to the following for gifts in money or goods. Darfleld and Kimberley District Auxiliary War Fund (per Mrs H. A. Knight) sent us a welcome and special donation of £IOO, Waimate Branch (per Miss Daily) £2O, Timaru Ladies' Patriotic Fund £lO (for Volunteer Nurses' Holiday Fund), Tawera Patriotic Association £2O, Miss E. M. Bradley £lO, TSangiora £2O, Sumner Branch monthly donation £5, Prisoner of War £5, Mrs H. Cross £l, Spreydon Branch £5 (monthly), Mrs Russell 5/-, Omihi Branch 15/0, Tai Tapu Branch £5 4/3, Doric £2 11/!), Mrs T. Wilkinson, Spotswood, £l, Mrs Woodcocks 5/-, Miss Hargreaves 10/-, Kundalee School 14/3, "Sheffield Branch £5, Mrs W. Powell I 10/-, Lincoln Branch £2, Miss K. Gresson £2 I 10/-, Oxford Branch (per J. McCormack, Esq.) £(> (i/-, A.B.C. 7/(i, Woolston School stall' £1 10/-, Mrs Asehman Ift/-, Mrs Bush 5/-, Mrs Dysart's afternoon £2 4/6, Bromley | Branch £5, Mr Bultitude 10/-, Barbara Hall, Kna Palmer, Kathleen Brown and Una I Curry 10/- (proceeds sale "Weekly Budget.") The following sent goods:—

Branches.—Gcbbic's Valley, Motukarara, Bangiora, Sheffield, Spreydon, Springfield, Russell's Flat and Kowai Bush, Akaroa, Kaiapoi, DunsandcJ, Waimate Mayoress's Fund, Timaru (100) parcels, Knox Church Guild, East Belt Soldiers' Guild, Grcymouth, Tai Tapu, Geraldine, Fernside, Westport, Chertsey, Ohoka, Doric, Woodend, Waikuku, Waimate (per Miss Dally), Springston, Pendarves, Sunnier, Kaituna Girls' Club, Redcliffs, Kaikoura, Papanui, Overdale ladies (per Mrs Jackson), Rakaia ladies (per Mrs Sowden), Ashley, Quamby, St. David's Girls' Club, St. Andrews Guild, Waikari, Marshlands, Kaituna, Birdling's Flat, Dunsandel.

Miscellaneous.—Mr Biggins, Mr Woods, Mr Booth, Mr Keats. J. Ballantyne & Co., Mr A. S. Patterson, Mr Upham, Mesdames McFarlane, Hiatt, Jones, Dalgety, Trounce, Secretan, Woodward, Tripp, Glcdhill, Page, Dr. Blaekmore Eaglesome, F. Graham, Jackson, Sherrard, Hcney, F. Horrell, Mullford, Clark, P.iunct, G: Gilmour, T. Armstrong, Campbell, Beckett, Marsden, Campion, Mcllraith, McKay, Seth Smith, Godfrey, Maxwell, Beid, Phillips, A. Duncan, Bates, Chisnall, Marriott, Eldridge, Mr Walker; Misses March, Laing, Sayers, Menlove, Pope, Gee, Orbell, Joyce, Page, Dolly and Mavis Spiller (result of birthday), Smith, O'Farell (party), Pannett, Burrow, Coker, Gresson, Beskett, Bowron, Somerfield, McMillan, Goodhart. Schools.—Selwyn, Dunsandel, West Christchurch, Bromley, Templeton, Wharenui, Opawa, Girls' High School. .12