"BONNIE BRIAR PAIR"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2555, 1 September 1915, Page 9

"BONNIE BRIAR PAIR"

OPENED BY PRIME MINISTER, The "Bonnie Briar Sale" organised' by the Salvation Army in aid of tlio Self-Dcnial Fund, was opened by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. .F. Massey) at the Vivian Street Citadel last evening. Mr. Massey was extended a. very warm reception, and was heartily thanked for sparing the time to perform' the ceremony l when ho was so very busy on. such important work. Mr. Massey tlianked the audience for the reception, and said that lie was very glad to notice such a large attendance. He always enjoyed being present with the members of the (Salvation Army, because the army was .doing such good work. He had watered what the araiy had been doing for the troops in Trent'liam, and had read what they had done in other parts of the world. Members of tlie army had stood beside tho soldiers ill the trenches, and liad attended. to tho wounded in tlie hospitals. And as Prime Minister of Now Zealand lie wished to' thank, the army for what it had done in behalf of tho soldiers. He .had ascertained that no fewer than 3000 of tlie bandinen of tho army had enlisted, and 1500 men from the army's social institutions. These latter were men who wero supposed to be the wasters of society, but through the efforts of tlie array they were now as' good soldiers as other men. In tending the wounded the army had acted up to the very best principles of Christianity. Mr. Massey expressed a hope that the fair would be a great success, and would be the means of bettering the army's position. He hoped, also, that .the members of the army'would go on being soldiers in the best sense of the word—soldiers of the King of Kings. He declared the fair open. There was a very good attendance at the fair, and the interior of. the citadel was. very attractive. There are. fifteen stalls, each one run by a division of the City and suburban area'. The stalls and dresses are in briar vein (as it were)—pink and.' white—and there is such an ample and varied stock of wares for sale that patrons of the fair will surely, find the thing they want. ■ V ' The fair will be continued this afternoon and evening, to-morro'.v, and Friday. - -