WELLINGTON CATHOLIC KNITTING GUILD

New Zealand Tablet, 12 July 1917, Page 35

WELLINGTON CATHOLIC KNITTING GUILD

ANNUAL MEETING.

An excellent record of work is shown in the first annual report of the Catholic Knitting Guild, which was presented last Thursday evening week, and the remark that the members trusted that a second* would be unnecessary, the longed-for peace having been declared before the second anniversary arrives, will be echoed by all. The Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., presided, and the Very Rev. Dean Holley, S.M. (Provincial) was also present. The officers elected were : President, Miss Kennedy; hon. treasurer, Mrs. J. J. L. Burke; hon. secretary, Mrs. Wheeler; committee— Mesdames Corrigan, Mackin, J. J. McGrath, J. E. Gamble, and Miss M. Collins. The report. disclosed that the city was divided up into districts, and a large number of enthusiastic workers joined the guild, and though, for various reasons, a number of these have fallen .out, many faithful workers remain, and the results show how much may be accomplished by even a few. Nearly £3O was collected at the inaugural meeting, and a fair number of donations have been received since. A concert, an At Home, and the proceeds from raffles have brought in a further sum of £3B lis. The woollen goods have been sent to the Countess of Liverpool Committee, and bed socks, girdles, face cloths, etc., have gone to the Red Cross Committee (Women's Branch), and parcels of socks, etc., have been posted regularly by the president direct to their chaplains at the front. The writer of the report makes the following explanation : —"lf I may be allowed to digress here, I should like to take this opportunity of stating our views on a subject on which I personally have had many inquiries. People often say to me, ' I have a son in camp or at the front, and he has had no socks sent him from the guild. How is that V Is it not reasonable to consider that our men have no need of our assistance while in camp? They are well provided for by the authorities and their own people, and, moreover, have not the rigors of a European winter to face. With regard to the men at the front, it is quite impossible for a guild of this size to provide every Catholic man on active service with socks, and it would be obviously unfair to discriminate who should be the favored ones. The parcels of goods sent to our chaplain are distributed by him to whom he thinks fit, and, I maintain that we should have sufficient confidence in our chaplains to safely leave the distribution in their hands." Within the year 1673 articles were made, and 1184 of this total were socks. Although wool is so extremely costly, 5000 skeins have been purchased ; of this about 4400 have been worked up, and 600 remain in hand, and as this will only last till September all interested are urged to increase the membership, and to send in donations, especially in view of the many appeals from the front, and letters of appreciation which have been received on all sides. Many letters have been received from the front, and letters of appreciation which have been received from Chaplains Barra, Skinner, Richards, McDonald, and Doyle, are full of gratitude on behalf of the men. and the late Father McMenamin expressed warm appreciation also. The stalk held by the guild on "Our Day" brought in £277, and at the two days at the Red Cross Shop the takings have been £lO7 and £257 respectively, making a record on each occasion. The next day will be on November 30, and it is hoped that all will do their best. The reportconcludes with thanks to all workers and sympathisers. The report was adopted on the motion of the Rev. Father Hurley, seconded by Mr. Geo. Girling-Butcher.