LONDON MANSION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21646, 6 May 1940, Page 4

LONDON MANSION

CENTRE FOR DOMINION WOMEN

WAR WORKERS

By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, May 3

Not content with offering his Gloucestershire mansion, Lydney Park, to the New Zealand Government as a military hospital or convalescent home for soldiers, Lord Bledisloe has made his London residence, 52, Sloane Street, available to New Zealand women resident in England, as a centre for preparation of comforts for the Expeditionary Force. This information has been received by Mrs Marler, of Auckland, from Lady Day, wife of Sir Cecil Day. formerly official secretary to the Governor-General and now attached to the High Commissioner’s office in London. Lady Day said that she visited the house and found the large draw-ing-room, morning-room, and diningroom prepared for working bees, which would be held there to sew and knit for the troops.

Lord Bledisloe’s original offer of Lydney Park was communicated to the New Zealand Government on September 27 by the High Commissionr (Mr W. J. Jordan), and was accepted immediately with warm appreciation of his generosity. A reply was sent that the Government would take advantage of it as circumstances might indicate, but at such an early stage no more definite indication could be given.