TRENCH COMFORT FUND.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16254, 3 July 1918, Page 2

TRENCH COMFORT FUND.

LADY LIVERPOOL TRAMWAY COPPER. TRAIL. A meeting of tlie oxecutive of tho Tramway Copper Trail in aid of the Lady Liverpool Trench Comfort If und was held last night, Mr L. B. Hart presiding over a good attendance. Messrs G. G. and J. H. Aitken wrote offering tho use of tho Globe Theatre for one month. .The secretary (Mr C. W. Hervev) reported that the offer ha& been accepted by the mhos© action was approved. * . The General Manager, Christchurch Tramways, wrote regretting that permission could not bo granted to allow canvassing 011 tho trams. A certain amount of advertising space on tho trams would be placed at the committee's disposal, and arrangements would be made for the display of results at the shelter. It was decided to write thanking tho Tramway Board. The Tramways Band wrote stating that it would give a concert in the Square on Friday night week. The Town Clerk wrote conveying permission for tho Tramway Troupe to give concerts in the Square and for the use of one of the City Council's electric waggons. Mr H. Hayward wrote offering to rent the King's 'i'heatre to the executive at a nominal rent of £1 per day. Tho oiler was accepted. Mr J. S. Barrett wrote that ho •wished to present to the fund a one pound ticket on the winner of the New Zealand Grand National, and he undertook to produce the ticket immediately after the race. The offer was accepted. The chairman reported that the subcommittee appointed had waited on the Headmasters' Association, the secretary of which body wrote assuring the executive of their hearty support, suggesting that the executive should write to the various school committees and ask them for their co-operation, .and expressing the opinion that no prizes should be given to school children for selling tickets. It was decided to thank the Association and to circularise the school committees. Mr N. Woods handed in a wristlet watch presented by Messrs Sladen and Sons for the tramway employe© selling the largest number of tickets. A letter of thanks is to be sent. The Publicity Committee (Mr N. Woods chairman) asked for authority for an expenditure'of £250 for advertising. Tho matter was referred to tho Finance Committee.

Mr W. E. D. Bishop reported that the Finance and Printing Committees recommended that 600,000 tickets be printed—loo,ooo for each line. The report was adopted. It was decided that the concert to have been held in the Square on Friday night be postponed till Friday week, owing to the state of the weather and' the uncertainty as to the supply of electricity.

Reports were made of v a number of prizes that had been offered. Mr Woods said that he understood that it "was suggested that prizes amounting to between £1000 and £1500 should be given. This, he thought, was a large amount, and lie suggested that the matter should be considered by the Finance Committee.

Mr F. D. Sargent pointed out that the scheme was a large one, and they should not be cheeseparing in tlio matter of prizes. The prizes wero' being given to the executive, and to date their value amounted to about £600.

The chairman said that those who gave tho prizes gave them for competition in the lucky number competition ; it was not a question of the prizes having been given to the fund. If £20,000 was to bo raised, their scheme must not be a small one, and a reduction of the number and value of the prizes would not give the results hoped for.; There was a strong probability of the scheme being taken up in South Canterbury. Replying to Mr J. A. Collins, the chairman said that neither the executive, nor the Finance Committee could divert the prizes given to any other purpose. It was decided to aim at £20,000, and to obtain as many prizes as possible. • Matters connected with the displaying of the results were discussed, Mr Bracey Wilson suggesting that six wires should be stretched across the Square, each line having on it a miniature tram-car. to be moved according to the amount collected. Mr P. H. Gwynn undertook to prepare several plans of the tramway system on which the results will be shown.

The offer of tho Druids' Concert Party to give a concert was accepted; Miss Lucy Cowan's offer of th© services of the- Tramway Copper Trail Concert Party was also accepted.