AUSTRALIA DAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2489, 16 June 1915, Page 11

AUSTRALIA DAY

BIG COMMONWEALTH MOVEMENT, The correspondence of Australia Day is becoming a formidable matter to handle, says the "Sydney Herald" of Wednesday last. From all over the State inquiries are pouring m, and these are answered direct-ly by. the honorary organiser. Offers of help are numerous. Mr. A. It. Cooke, secretary of the Commercial Traveller's' Association of New South Wales, called on Mf. Hugh J. Ward yesterday, and assured him that the members of that organisation would assist in any way. possible for Australia Day. Mr. Ward decided to use the offer by having all the representatives of the business houses made members of the travelling committee. It will be their duty to awaken interest in the country towns in the campaign. They will be constantly in touch with the central executive. and assist in the propaganda work, furnishing 1 the country Press with information, and meeting the local working committees. In this way great results will accrue. Mr. H. M. Somer,', secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society, also volunteered to place the resources of his organisation at the disposal of Mr. Ward. Over 100 country agricultural societies are affiliated with the Royal Agricultural Society, and with each of these Mr. Somer will communicate, urging the co-operation of committees with the local effort in each town on July 30. Mr. Lome C. Stupart, of Maryborough (Q.), was another caller upon Mr. Ward. Maryborough, he stated, had raised £7000 by various funds, and i would heartily enter into the Australia Day campaign. "My brother," said Mr. Stupart, "was the first in our town to fall on the field of honour." Mr. Stupart has just returned from New Zealand, where he reports the Bed Cross Funds are engaging general attention. "There are many sad cases," he said. "The most terrible that came under my personal notice was that of u girl, who, with her brother, was the sole support of aged parents. This independent spirit was empjoyed in an office, and one day she received a message from the military authorities stating that her brother had been rendered totallv blind while fighting in Franco. The same day she learned that the young man she was engaged to bad fallen fighting at the Dardanelles. I don't know how the funds are to be administered here, but in Maryborough in such a case part of the burden tho girl had to bear would be lifted from her." Many 'letters were received by Mr. Ward on the subject of the administration of the moneys to be raised. His statement that it was necessary that there should bo wide discretionary powers on the part of those handling the funds was endorsed by many correspondents. "These details," said Mr. Ward, "will be explained at the meeting on Thursday of next week at Her Majesty's. It has been definitely determined that the money will be for tho Australian wounded, and that the liuman touch will bo uppermost in tho administration. A soldier suffering montal anguish for the immediate needs of those depending on him should bo freed from such suffering. Tho man who offers his life must feel that noihing money can do for him will be denied. That is why money must flow in—l was going to say 'generously.' But it is not generosity that should move people; it is gratitude." For Children's Hacking Cough at Nielit, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Is, 6d.*