COLLECTING BOXES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3172, 24 August 1917, Page 5

COLLECTING BOXES

* — IS THERE A DOUBT? Mr. Thomas Bush, -who, with other .prominent citizens, undertook the counting of tho money placed in the collecting boxes on Violet Day, and who is treasurer of the Bed Cross shop on Lambton . Quay, waited on the Mayor (Mr. J. P> Luke) yesterday in order to bring before him the question of collection boxes. Mr. Bush stated that for a considerable time past there appeared to be some -unrest and doubt in tho public mind as to '■ wTiether the collection' boxes were being properly manipulated', i There was great irregularity in the system in vogue, and the absence of uniformity caused suspicion to arise. The boxes were'being considerably knocked about, and repairs had cost a certain amount of money. On Violet Day, at least three of the boxes had been returned in a most unsatisfactory condition. He instanced two cases where the boxes were not sufficiently strong to bold the money, and this was not fair.to tho collectors. In other-cases the .boxes had apertures right along the top, and all one had to do was to turn fhem upside-down and tho money would fall out. Mr. Bush expressed the opinion that some regulation or official boxes should be provided, and he suggested that the Cite Council might take the matter up. This meant that the council could provide a proper set of boxes with suitable lock and key. If that were done the boxes would be in tho_ right hands* Ho thought the council might charge a reasonable fee as rent for the boxes. The police would then know tho'officinl boxes, and no others would bo permitted. Tn his reply, the Mayor said that everyone connected with patriotic work -ras (Tcsirous that the money collected should be safeguarded, and forwurded to the proper quarter. Some time ago-there was i'-oiible about tho'boxes and methods . of coJTeefion, and conditions were set un by the Minister of Internal Affairs. If those conditions- were properly carried out there would'lie no ground for complaint. The suggestion that the council should take tho matter in hand was a sew one, and he pointed out that the council had no'authority to expend monev in the way snggested. The idea was, liowever, a good one, providing the council was recompensed for the -money spent. In his opinion, the better body to interest in the matter was the War Funds Collecting Committee, but he would b* pleased to do all he could as far as the council was concerned. Mr. T,nV-o nniuted out that the committee had undertaken to see that all boxes used ' by them were properly secure and uniform. He also wished to make it plain that personally he never crave authority j to any ono to tako out collecting boxes.