SOLDIERS' DAY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 8

SOLDIERS' DAY.

A MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE

CLOSE ON £2000 RAISED,

Tho Returned Soldiers' Association, the Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association, tho bevy of ladies who took part in the street collection, and all others who assisted, have every reason to bo proud of tho response mado by tho public on Thursday io the appeal for funds for tho Returned Soldiers' Association. The ascertained total from all sources reached the very gratifying sum of approximately £1883 13s Hid, made up as follows: — £ s. d. Surprise packets (including tlie amount given by the Strand Picture Theatre proprietors) .... 1113 0 0 Street collection ... 710 13 Hi Alpe's walk ... ••• GO 0 0 Total ... ••• 1883 13 lli The principal feature of the appeal was tho "Surpriso Packet" scheme, carried out lor the lirst time in Cliristchurcli •in connexion with raising patriotic funds, for which tho Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association was responsible. Tho members of that body not only mado very complete preparations but carried out every detail admirably. Tho "packets," which consisted of envelopes each containing a coupon entitling the holder to some articlc. were sold for one shilling each by ladies and members of the two clubs, and so keen was the demand for them that by 11.30 a.m. the supply had been exhausted and tho demand was still keen, somo people giving .as much as 2s for a "packet." The prizes ranged in value from £12 downwards, and included a bicycle, a horse, sewing machines, gold watches, and groceries, hardware, and drapery. Tho supply of goods exceeded the number of coupons, and tho goods left over wero auctioned in tho evening. There was also a street collection, contributors receiving a badge designed for tho Returned Soldiers' Association by Sapper Moore Jones. A good start was made with the receipt of a cheque from Mr H. P. M. Berry of £100, and the day's effort resulted in a total of £710 13s llid being collected. Tho headquarters wero at the Chamber of Commerce, where refreshments wero provided for tho collectors and also for the ladies engaged in selling the "surprise packets." The refreshments wero supplied hv the Women's National Reserve. under Mcsdames Lavie and Hunter and Miss Tabart. The collections taken up on the route of Mr H. S. Alpe'fj walk from Ashburton to Christchurcli totalled about £60. On Thursday afternoon there was 3 procession of returned soldiers from Victoria square to Cathedral square. About 200 paraded under Major Hardy, the mounted men being under the command of Stafr-Scrgeant-Major Webb, and tho infantry under Regimcntal-•Sercreant-Major Ritchie. The proprietors of the Strand Theatre, which opened on Thursday evening, devoted the takings to the Returned Soldiers' Association, the amount being included in the surprise packet total.