A NOVEL BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 176, 15 April 1918, Page 8

A NOVEL BATTLE

SCHEME TO HELP RED JERSEY APPEAL. The organisers of tbe Red Jersey appeal on behalf of 'he Salvation Army's war work aro working on a 'novel plan for the purpose of raising money—a plau by whicli everybody will be able to help. It has beeii said that in campaigns of this sort a little friendly rivalry is the secret of success. Consequently, the Citizens' Committee has decided _to inaugurate a ''groat artillery battle"—with silver coin and. cheques as the ohiei munitions. There will be two opposing sides-Red and Blue-each including twelve separate districts. The Red group will comprise Oriental Bay, Hataitai, Kilhirnie, Maranui, Lyall Bay, Seatoun, Newtown, Brooklyn, and Mitchelltown, while in the Blue group there will be Kelburn, Northland, Karori, Wadestown, Thorndon, Ngaio, Khandullah, Johnsonville, Upper Hutt, Lower Htitt, Pctonc, and Hastbourne. War has not yet been declared, but all sort 3 of preparations are being carried out Dehind the respective frontiers. Red and Blue buttons will be on sale everywhere, and tho colour worn -will be an indication to the world of the side favoured. Shopkeepers are urged to dress their windows according to the leanings, and motor-car owners to dress their cars. In short, it is promised that Wellington •will see nothing but Red—and Blue—during the next week or so. Wellington City will be "No Man's Land," but it will not be neutral on that account for it .is being organised with the object of providing reserves to either of the opposing parties. Open hostilities will commenco with the firing of the first shot (of money) pjtraight at the treasurer (Major Page) and the only question remaining is Who will fire the first shot? PATRIOTIC MATINEE. The J. C. Williamson companies have over bejn to the fore since the war commenced in assisting any patriotic cause in need of monetary aid. As saon as it was suggested that the Royal Comic Opera Company might assist tho Salvation Army in their .Red Jersey campaign the idea was enthusiastically taken up by the manager (Mr. J. Eavrell and tho members of the company). The lady members did their best to sell ticket*). They made their most successful effort in the Commercial Travellers' Club, where £10 worth of tickets were sold in as many minutes. The matineo was not so largely attonded on. Saturday afternoon as it might have been, owing to the weather being so beautifully fine. Still, the gross receipts (no deductions were made at all) amounted to jeiOT. Of that amount .£7 7s. was realised for a very beautiful basket of scarlot flowers presented by Miss Cooper, the florist, and two artistic bouquets presented by Miss S. Poole, of Manners Street. Tho baaket was bought by Major Black for 35., Mr. ]?. Dennett (of the "Look Who's Here" Company) purchased one of tho bouquets for .£2 25., and Miss Florence Young, of tho Royal Comic Opera Company, the other for a like amount. The flowers were sold by Miss Young, assisted by Mr. Phil Smith.

During the same interval in "Mr. Manhattan," two £'o War Bonds, presented by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., were raffled among those who had paid for admission. The winning numbers (drawn by Miss "Florence Young) were 356 and 2662. Tho latter number was held by Private A. J. Marshall, of the New Zealand Medical Corps, a' returned soldier (married), who is going back to the front. The War Bond was presented to him by Miss Young at the conclusion of the* performance, who wished him all sorts of good luck.