Soldiers’ Christmas Gift Fete 1916
Returned Soldiers’ Hair Dressing Competition
A fundraising event for the Mayoress’s Soldiers’ Christmas gift fund was held at the Basin Reserve on 9th October 1916. Admission was one shilling. The day prior to the fete, the hat was passed around at the waterfront and workers donated £11 16s. On the morning of the fete, street collections were taken and £338 raised. This was mostly run by young ladies who sold button holes.
The programme of the day was varied with a Grand Review of over 1000 Boy Scouts, Association Football, Ladies’ Hockey, Soldiers’ Championship Running and Walking events.
Aside from the sports, there was a fancy dress competition for the best representation of Charlie Chaplin. Entry fee was one shilling and the prizes were £2 2s and £1 1s. There were also side shows, highland dancing and four bands.
The returned soldier’s hat trimming and hair dressing competitions created a lot of amusement. In the hairdressing Miss Rochfort and Private Bunning won first place. Miss Sheehey and Sailor Roberts (H.M.S. Torch) earnt second place. The competition was judged by Miss Milsom.
His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Glasgow were patrons and attended along with the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr & Mrs Charles Luke). The Mayoress’s ladies’ committee offered afternoon tea.
In late November the committee gathered to wind up the Christmas Gift Fund. A total of £2970 was raised. Their expenses included £12 for the use of the Basin Reserve. The Hon. James Allen had said that as far as was possible, the gifts should be local products. They could not make the towels needed in New Zealand, but the fruit, meat, sweets and jams were all New Zealand manufactured.
There is no record of what was in the parcels sent to Europe, but the parcels sent to Samoa contained light singlets, underpants, socks and gramophone records (Scotch ones were preferred). These cost 10s per parcel. Parcels were also placed on transports which would be at sea on Christmas to be opened on Christmas morning.
Mrs Luke displayed for the committee a sample parcel sent to the front and said,
‘… that it would be seen what time, love and energy had been employed in packing them’.
Soldiers taking part in the hair-dressing competition in the Basin Reserve at Wellington last week. Courtesy of Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19161019-36-07.