FLOWER AND BALLOON DAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 258, 19 July 1918, Page 2

FLOWER AND BALLOON DAY

HELPING THE MEN OP THE NAVY. . A meeting to further the arrangements that are being carried out in connection with the "balloon and (lower day" on July 2G and the morning of'July'27, for the benefit of Navy League funds, was held in No. 1 committee room of the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. . Mre. J. Darling presided, and there wore present Mestlames Hall-Thompson, Stewart, 1:1. Kirkcaldio, Harding, K. Kirkcaldio, Chcimels, Phillips Turner, Martin, Luke, Waters, Lever, Larnach, C. Earlo, Watkins, O'Sullivan, Gamble, Maekin, .Robinson, Gorton, Wilson, von Haast, Miss Hamorton, Miss llolhenberg, and Miss Edwin. ' ' In opening the meeting Mrs. Darling explained, that some weeks ago a very generous offer had been received from Mr. Jaeobsen, through Mrs.. Martin, o:: a gift of a large supply of balloons to be disposed of for the beneiit of the Navy League funds. In addiliou, he had promised tho use of an office, of a machine for blowing up the balloons, and of string, and he would take back all the balloons that xomnincd unsold from their effort. The committee (the Bottle Committee, with the addition of a few friends) decided to oraaniso n flower and balloon dny, soing that they stood to' loose nothing upon the balloons. Anxious not .to clash with any lied Cross effort, thej approached the Tied Cross. Society as to their plans,■ but could getno satisfactory answer from thciti as to whether they were .going to hold a violet day or no, so after waiting ._ for a whilo thoy decided to go on with the matter. July 26 was the date fixed for tho effort, so that there should be no interference with France's Day. Furthermore, the Town Clerk had been asked as to whether there was any fixture on an important day close to the one they had selected, and they were assured there was Dot. The permit was at once secured and the announcement mado and again it was made later, so that there was no lack of publicity. Hearing later on that the Red Cross Society had decided to hold a Violet Day, an .offer was mnde lo combine forces and make' one single effort. Tho reply that was received, however, was that the society. could not see their way to unite with flic Navy League organisation for that purpose. Evidently, continued Mrs. Darling, there was something in the organisation of the local Red Cross body that forbade cooperation willi other bodies, since it was done elsewhere. A great deal of sympathy and support had been received, as it was' recognised that their organisation was the only one that worked directly for naval men.

An ouiline was givon of whot assistance hiut been received to date:—Tho Public Works Department was t>roviding stalls; the D.I.C. was decorating them; Kirkcaldie and Stains wero decorating a window for a week beforehand; also Veitch and Allan's; while Te Aro House, not having a window for toys, was displaying a lnrge card. Captain Munro was placing a shed at their disposal, in which the stalls would be decorated, and he was also giving further assistance. If possible, band music would bo provided, jmt there were certain difficult ics in tho way. A letter had been received from Hie secretary of the Marine Engineers' Institute, promisiLg assistance, and expressing apprecii tion of the work done bj the Ivavy League. A design for an exemption badge of i which {lis originators wero .Mr. von | llnast and Mr., Atkins, was exhibited, , and adopted by the meeting, which also decided that it be sold for half a crown. | It was emphasised by the meeting that once the badgo had been purchased and worn by its owner,'he or she would not be asked again to buy'or give. It was to be respected as an exemption budge, that understanding to bo faithfully adhered to by all helpers. The allotment, of stalls was as follows: —Bouleott Street corner, Mrs. O'Sulliv&n, assisted by Mrs. Mackin and Mis. Gam- ' ble (representing the Catholic Knitting , Guild); Kirkcaldie and Slains, Mrs. Waters and helpers (Mrs. Waters has also undertaken to organise n stall at Woodward Street corner); Kelbtirn, Mrs,von Haast; Post Office, Mrs. C. Eiirle. As there are to be various auxiliary efforts and groups of sellers «f flowers and balloons, it was decided that four stalls, well supplied, would be all that was necessary. For (he flowers, the depot would be tho auction mart in • Messrs. Ilarcourt 'and Co.'s Buildings, which had been kindly placed at the disposal of tho committee, and for the balloons the depot would be in Manners Street. Mrs. Martin was to be in clinrgo of tho latter, Mrs. Keith Kirkcaldie assisting; and in charge of the depot in Messrs. Harcourt's building will .bo Mrs. Stewart, assisted by Mrs. Lever, Mrs. .Lnrnach, Mrs. Harding, Mrs. Gorton, and Sirs. Luke. It was decided to havo collection-boxes, each stallholder to be responsible for her own boxes, also to provide baskets and traj>. Mrs. Stl'wnrt proposed that there should be a representative of each stall at tlio depot to seo tlmt her stall received its neee-.'-ivy supplies of flowers,- Jjadges, and balloons. Miss Li.ufi.' Kirkcaldie was appointed treasurer, .subject to her consent. Mrs. J. Darling is secretary. An outline, was given (.!. many of the offers that had been received in regard to the collection of flowers in various districts, towns, and suburbs, etc., and it was stated that rinall balloons would be sold at not less than 3d., end the large ones for not less than Gd. An apology for her unavoidable abscnce was received from Mrs. \V. F. Massey. who i>n'ni-"d assistance in every way possible to her. It \)'as cxpiniiuii that all contributions addressed Navy League (lift Goods, llnroourt'e Buildings, Wellington, would travel free.