Newspaper Article – Many gifts for Save the Children Fund

Many gifts for Save the Children Fund

Many gifts had been received by the executive of the Northern Hawke’s Bay branch of the Save the Children Fund since the last meeting, the president, Mrs D. A. Ballantyne, reported at the February committee meeting. Mr C. Rawlings, the Hastings Wool Shop, had donated the whole of his stock of children’s clothing to Miss Elsie Leipst for the Save the Children Fund’s work in Korea – gift valued at several hundred pounds. These goods have been packed, and are now in Napier awaiting shipment.

An anonymous gift of £300 enabled the Northern Hawke’s Bay branch to send £3836 as their donation to the Rice Bowl Appeal. This money will be used for the fund’s work in Korea, Hongkong, Jordan, and Morocco. Mrs Ballantyne said a number of Christmas donations had been received. These included amounts sent in by groups of children who went from door to door singing carols and staging Nativity scenes.

Mrs W. A. Whitlock reported that sales of Christmas cards were better than ever this year. Napier sales had more than doubled. Final figures were not yet available, but the committee was able to send off £1300 of Christmas card profits to the Dominion treasurer.

“Christmas card money finances the New Zealand – sponsored mobile medical clinics in Southern Greece, a small amount goes to self-help schemes in the mountain villages above the Sangro river in Southern Italy, and the remainder where the need is greatest,” said Mrs Whitlock.

The mission circle of the Catholic Women’s League packed five large crates of clothing earlier this month. These now await shipment to Korea. The committee was shown samples of quilts and knitted garments knitted by a group of friends in Napier. The president thanked the mission circle, who pack donated clothing every second month, and Messrs Blackmore and Millar and Giorgi who act as receiving depot for parcels of clothing.

Two new committee members were welcomed. They were Lady Andrews, who served on the SCF committee in Christchurch, and Mrs D. Lunn, who has recently returned to Hawke’s Bay. The resignation of Miss Anne Nelson, magazine secretary, who is going overseas, was received with regret.

Delegates to represent the branch at the annual general meeting to be held in Christchurch on April 3 and 4 are Mrs W. A. Whitlock, Mrs L. H. Williams, and Miss P. Tyers (sponsorship secretary).

Mrs Ballantyne said that a painting by Mr Douglas Badcock which he presented to the fund to be raffled had netted £633. The picture was won by Mrs P. Norton, Outram, Otago.

Members heard letters of thanks from Mr Ray Dawson, administrator for the SCF in Korea, from families in Greece and Korea, and from members of a handicrafts club the branch sponsors in Hongkong. It was arranged to hold the annual meeting of the branch on Wednesday, March 18, in the Premier Hall, Hastings.