WOMEN’S PATRIOTIC LEAGUE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145755, 14 February 1917, Page 6

WOMEN’S PATRIOTIC LEAGUE.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual mooting of tho Nfw Plymouth Women's Patriotic League whs held in the Soldiers’ Clnl> on Monday night. Thore wore only £7 ladies and lliroo men present when the meeting opened, ami tins’ led the president UMrs. C. H. Burges;,, Mayoress), to remark that she wondered if those present weio all the patriotic people in New Plymouth. “1 should have thought,'’ she concluded. "that greater interest would have been manitested in patriotic work at this lime than is shown by the number present.' 1 ’ The balance-sheet for the year was read by Mr. F. Asher (lion, treasurer), and the various items showing the work the .League had done, were received witli applause as they were read. The annual, report was then rend hy the (Mayoress, and in moving its adoption, together with the balance-sheet, Mrs. Burgess said -.ho League started with a capital of £8 lb's lid. _ This did not last, long, and fnrthnr stimulus was given to the work hy a donation of £SO from the Central School carnival. The League had never been short of money, but its work had hern regulated by its income. The greatest proportion of the work was done, outside the Leagues'" rooms. There wore even independent organisations which worked in the rooms, but which wore entirely self-supporting. The ladies ol these organisations merely used the machines, and left their work on the tables when they had done. Self-supporting guilds worked at Leppcrton, Oniata, Okate. Uruti. Okan. llahotu, Matua, FrankIcy Hoad, and at the Whitolcy (Methodist, Ft. Andrew s Pre.sbyte.mn and Baptist churches. AM these organisations sent their work to the League’s depot, where it war. packed, addressed, and despatched. The schools and the country guilds had done wonderfully well. The people of New Plymouth had been very generous, and had kept the League in funds. Without this help the work could not have gone on. The flower day efforts had not cost a iarthing, and thanks to the kindnesf; or donors and helpers, including a number of boys, the sum of £507 had been raised. As far as was possible, the money was disposed of almost as soon as It was raised. Mrs Burgess expressed her thanks to the Gas Com■ianv. shipping companies, Kawaroa and" East End Committees, ’ the Baud, and members of the warehouse stall', who had assist<fd the League. In fact, it would bo absolutely impossible _ to name all those who had helped, assistance having come from the most unexpected quarters, and the whole community had boon most generous. the Mayoress instanced a ease in which 20 young ladies met every (Monday oi oiling, and did a certain amount of sewing. She then enumerated at length the many details in connection with the 'League’s efforts, including the gift parcels’scheme. which was one cl the chid works of interest. If more help was forthcoming, the president thought it voulcl he possible to send .500 parcels monthly in future. The work of sewing for Belgian children was also touched upon, and the butter scheme, organised bv Mrs. Hughes, was next mentioned. ' Then .there was the, condensed milk brigade, ttnd the handke.r(hief brigade, the members of which contributed 6d a, week, and thus enabled tho milk to ho purchased for the gift parcels, and were also responsible for the inclusion of-the khaki handkerchiefs. The provision of socks was a very big item, and another thing neoded for the soldiers was home-made jam. The cost of upkeep of tho, ambulance at the front was £IOO a- year, but up to the present only £7)O was in hand, and the League would bo glad to accept further donations. The speaker had had a letter from Ur. Watson, of Bulls, who said his brother was driving the, ambulance. Mrs. Burgess wont on to refer to tho presentation of “hussifo” to recruits leaving tho town, and also mentioned tho gift of gramophones and records to men on troopships, and tho wrapping and posting of papers hy Air. H. C. Baker. Many other branches of work wore also remarked on. "What wo are needing,’’ said the mayoress in conclusion, "is more lie!]) to do the work. Tho rooms are there for tho public. They- don’t belong to tho Women's Patriotic Committee. They don't belong Br the mayoress. They are for the people. Everyone is welcome to make use of them."

Miss Godfrey seconded tin*- adoption of the report and balance-sheet, and said they disclosed n very satisfactory state of affairs. The work done by the League was stupendous. Aliss Godfrey paid a. warm tribute to the wonderful organising power of Airs. Burgess, amt said New Plymouth .should lie very grateful for having such u capable bead for its patriotic league. : Tiie motion was adopted The officers for the ensuing year were elected ns follows: —President, Mrs. Burgess; committee. Alesclames Anihnry, Kherlet, Bowden, Hugh.cs, Foote. Ewing, Blundell, Neal, Bcckhon. treasurer, Air. F. Asher.