WHICH SHOP?

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 18 December 1916, Page 8

WHICH SHOP?

Sir, —By notices in the Press it is announced. that in i addition to the existing Red Cross shop that has been in active operation for the last ten months, a second 'shop is to start near by on Friday, next. Well, if there is room for another shop of this character, by all means let us have it. But, surely, Mrs. J. P. Luke, who is an active promoter of the new shop, might have taken care to avoid clashing or it with the shop already in the field, and one that has such a splendid record of work done. I fear all sorts of mistakes will happen.

The existing shop is named the "Red Cross" Shop; it opens always on Fridays ; and it is situated in Woodward Street, close to Lambton Quay. Mrs. "Luke's shop is to be named the ''Red Cross" Shop; it is to be open on Fridays ;, and is situated not far from t~nc oxistihg shop. ' ■ I am sorry to introduce even the appearance of controversy, but it is a fact when the first Red. Cross shop was mooted, on the lines of one then running in Christchurch, by Mrs. Murray Thomson and Mrs. Fletcher Reilly —two ladies who have worked so nobly at the shop for the past ten months— Mrs. Luko's N temarks ati the meeting were- nob very encouraging. In spite of this, however, the two ladies named courageously undertook tho business, and opened shop in' Woodward Street, where they, with others, have done exceedingly well. '"Why Mrs. Luke has now decided to copy the nftme.of the existing shop, open on the same day and in the same locality, is to me a puzzle. . • V I may say I have no connection with either shop, but knowing tho facts. and in justice to the many faithful workers, who are seldom seen in. the limelight, , I felt compelled to call at- | tention to an almost certain cause of ! misunderstnndingif things take their course. To avoid" oonfusion, why not adopt another name for- the second shop, or rearrange the dates, or perhaps better still, amalgamale forces:— .1 ami etc., .• OBSERVER. [With regard to the above letter, Mrs. >Luke states that her remarks at the meeting referred to were most encouraging, and that she thought a shop should be opened, but not entirely alone; the lines of the Red Cross shop in Christchurch. She said she did not approve of the sale of second-' hand furniture, antiques, etc. The writer, Mrs. Luke added .is in error again when referring to "Mrs. Luke's shop." It is not Mrs. Luke's shop at all. and\is called the "Wellington Red Cross ShoD," and it is a branch of the women's work of the British Red Cross of the Wellington district. The fact that tlie writer ' is not connected with : either of the shops explains, Mrs. Luke : suggests, why Jip is in error on. the fundamental points."] ■ ,v ' '■■ j ";■ ■