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Welfare Bureau should be run by members of the Committee helped by Mrs. Maughan, Mrs. Grigor, Mrs. Prior, Mrs. Calthrop and Mrs. Norman. Mrs. Colter of Shanghai was engaged to be at the Bureau from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. (Sundays excepted) at a salary of $50.00 a month and transport. When she returned to Shanghai her place was taken on the same terms by Miss Walker, a refugee from the Central British School Centre. Miss Walker returned to Shanghai on 10th December and it was decided that her place need not be filled as all refugees were shortly expected to return.

A large amount of clothing was received from the foreign community in Foochow, which was greatly appreciated as stocks were running low and colder weather approaching. As time went on this became a pressing problem. Broadcast appeals brought in some warm things but not enough, and scarcely anything for the boys and girls. It was therefore decided to buy what was still necessary. A total sum of $566.78 was spent in providing inexpensive knitting wool, jerseys and cardigans, shorts and skirts and thick overcoats for the journey to Shanghai. Messrs. Whiteway, Laidlaw & Co. supplied these coats at half price, a generous offer for which the Committee was very grateful.

The maximum number of refugees accommodated at this Centre was 477.

Education.

With the long stay of the refugees in the Colony the education of the children became a problem. Mr. Pardoe with the assistance of some Shanghai teachers had opened a school in Kowloon Union Church for Refugee children, and on being approached he agreed to include the children at Laichikok. It was decided that a school under Miss Aliston should be opened in Laichikok for children up to 8 years of age, and that the rest should travel into Kowloon daily. Mr. Pardoe found it was impossible to accommodate all the children in the Union Church Hall and was fortunate in securing from Government the use of the old Kowloon Magistracy, which proved a very suitable building for a school. Part of the bottom floor of Block 6 at Laichikok was turned into a school room. The Committee bought stools and had tables made and got the very simple equipment for which Miss Aliston asked. The school proved most successful, and continued to run till these teachers returned to Shanghai. After a short time the schools were reopened under Mrs. Lambert, who got a staff of teachers together, and the schools con- tinued to run until 17th December when they closed down. Mrs. Mitchell taught the kindergarten at Laichikok.

A physical drill class for boys and girls was most efficiently run by Mr. Powis, who kindly came out every day, and a very enjoyable display was given by his class at the Benefit Dance for the children of the late Mrs. Stuart Xavier.

H.M.S. Parthian very kindly arranged a dance on 9th October to which many of the refugees were asked and the $375 raised was most generously given to the Ladies Welfare Committee to buy rattan tables and chairs to furnish a Recreation Room, and chairs for the dormitories.

A Benefit Dance for the seven children of the late Mrs. Stuart Xavier was held on 10th November. Kay Lee, the Army Contractor who was caterer at Lai- chikok and Central British School Centres, generously provided the refreshments and the China Fleet Club lent the hall. $497.13 was realized and this was sent to Mr. Haines of Shanghai to be used for the education of the Xavier children.

The Laichikok Welfare Bureau closed on 23rd December as it was understood that the refugees would be leaving during the Christmas holidays.

Relief Funds.

A list of persons without means at the Jockey Club Centre was obtained from Mr. Carrie on 31st August. Mrs. Dicken, Mrs. Gerrard and Mrs. Wolf assisted by