"SURPRISE PACKET" DAY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 7

"SURPRISE PACKET" DAY.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS'

EFFORT TO-DAY.

Much activity and excitement will prevail in tho streets of Christchurch to-day, as the groat effort of the Commercial Travellers' Association to dispose of 20,600 "surprise packet" envelopes will be in full swing. Tho object is to raiso £1000 for tho Returned Soldiers' Club, and every confidence is felt that that object will bo attained. The Returned Soldiers' Association will itself bo taking no small part in tho activities of tho day in tho form of processions and rallies, otc. Tho sellers of envelopes will meet at the secretary's office, opposite Broadway's, at 9 o'clock, and on being supplied with their bundles will immediately enter upon their campaign. Tho stalls were pushed forward rapidly yesterday, and will be stocked with goods from 6.30 this morning, so that by tho timo tho tickets roach tho public everything will bo in readiness to hand over tho prizes. A very great deal of work has been necessary in connexion with tho scheme, and as a matter of fact a section of tho Travellers will put in an all-night shift.- All this work, however, lias been done cheerfully ? and it only remains for the public to consummate tho labour by their patronage. That full value is assured to th© purchasers of tickets may be seen fromi a reliable estimate that the total retail value ot the goods to bo given away in _ tho coupons is well over £1000. The prizes, as already announced, range in valuo from sixpence to fifteen pounds, and there will be absolutely no blanks. The directors of tho Strand Picture Theatre Company announce that the gross proceeds of their opening day (to-day), from th© hour of noon to 6.30 p.m., will bo given to the Soldiers' JDlub. A great many people in the country have forwarded money to tho Travellers' Association requesting that envelopes be reserved for them, but as the articles must all be removed from tho stalls on the ono day and as all envelopes must have an equal start to secure fairness their requests have had to bo refused.