STIIEET APPEALS AND ORGANISATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 262, 24 July 1918, Page 2

STIIEET APPEALS AND ORGANISATION

HOW SYDNEY MANAGES. Somo interesting facts iu relation to olforu in collecting money for patriotic purposes in Sydney were uiven iu the course of .1 talk with an Australian visitor yesterday afternoon. 'l'lio lady had had considerable experience in such work m Sydney, and so in in a position to i:peak with authority upon the methods in vogue in that city. It seems th(it permits for street collecting avo issued by the Lord Mayor and council, and according to a rule recently brought into forco, a largo street collection is only made once a month, or, if tlie circumstances are in any way urgent / or exceptional, perhaps twice a mouth. 'By following this rule, the public, which after all, is composed of pcoitlo whose avocations call them daily into the streot, are protected, and it also prevents collections from being held so close to each other that the proceeds from both aro likely to suffer. Another thing that is taken into account when grunting permits is that the order in which they liavo been received is taken into consideration, tho first application received being;granted precedence in collecting. Yet another noteworthy feature in conncctiou with Sydney methods is that permits for street collections arc granted to one organisation, say, the Red Cross or. tho Y.11.C.A., or the War Chest Fund, for tho course of a month, or even two months, and during that timo 110 other organisation is allowed on the streets to sell or collect. Everything taken in tho streets during these big collection days goes to the one fund for which permits have been granted. It was interesting to learn also that when a big appeal is to bo made help is advertised for, and tho different societies send in their offers'to take stalls. Somo idea of how .big these streot days are may be gathered from tlie fact that sometimes tlicro a.ro as many as 200 stalls to .be seen in tho streets, aud it will bo readily understood that tho help of every organisation, fund, socidtj' and sewing circle is needed.

In answer to the query as to whether the Red Cross organisation joined with other societies and took a stall for any other purpose tbau that of Red Cross funds, such as, say, the War Chest Fund or the Mayor's Funds, the. reply was that it did. "If they did not do that, what would they do for help when making appeals for. their own work?" tho lady added. Societies or bands of helpers sond in thoir application for positions on a form, but must put alternative requests, and theao aleo aro dealt with in their order by the executive in charge of the appeal. Certain stands, however, that have habitually' been taken by a band of. workers aro usually kept for them. An instance of this was quoted by the lady. In her own case eho had always worked with a band of Helpers wlio lmu uiiien jjim in every big collection since the war began, and the same stand had always been granted to them. As they specialised in certain commodities such as pickles and jam, the public always knew just whero to fiud them.

The big city collections of Sydney have been managed, practically eiiica the war began, by Mr. Neville Mayuian and Mr. Upjohn, and with so mucn experience to draw upon these big street collections go almost automatically, so well do those taking part know their taslc. Every detail appears to have been worked out, even to tho point Jhat while ouch stall assistant wears n badge the head of each stall wears a special one. so that inquirers know at once to whom to appeal. Each stall is erected and entirely stocked by the stall-holders, or, as often 'happens, different city firms do tho work tor them. .

Another point that made for -smooth running in the conduct uf street days was that official superintendents are _appointed who visit each stall mid see what' is required. ' Naturally all oorts of schemes are set in motion, and among some of the luoneymaking ones is that of auctioning Roods, while yet another one is that uf coffee carts! from which morning t*a or coffee may be obtained. These are usually managed by V.A.D.'s, and ate stationed in the Post Office Square. All legitimate waye are open to the stallholder to mako money, ihiiour, them nnxiliiuy efforts such as are made in Wellington, by means of entertainments, enchro parties, dances, etc. These, however, do not affect the street days. Wbnt is of particular importance to the latter is the fact that whenever α-strect appeal is being made, all other buying and soiling in the streets ceases, the authorised appeal alone receiving tho consideration of the public and of the city authorities ■ ■ ■

A most interesting war talk will be given by Chaplain T. Fielden Taylor in St. Mark's Schoolroom next lionday ovoning. Jlany stirring personal experiences with our soldiers 'n tho trenches will be told. As there will be no charge for admission a collection will bo taken up for the St. Mark's ladies' lied Cross day, to be hejd in Auguet.

Miss Massey's entertainment for ftayy Lcnguo funds, to be held on July 31, includes a fine seriw o£ tableaux vivant, with beautiful limelight effects. .Aβ a considcriiblo number of ladies are to take part, ai:d tho arrangemi'iit is in the capuble' lmnds or Jliss Butler, tlio entertainment will 'doubtless be a charming one. In addition to musicn.l items by Miss Fuller, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. V. Irving, there will bo a capable orchestra, under Mr. Frank Johnstone, and an amusing one-iict comedy, "The Bathroom Door." During the evening homemado Bweets will be sold, the stall being in charge of Mrs. Koith. Kirkouldie. Intending patrons of tho entertainment aro again reminded to book early.

Mrs. J. D. C. Crewe (Mayoress of Pahiatuii) pave an enjoyable afternoon at her residence, Kiatiwsa, Wakeman Street, the guest of honour being Mrs. Johansen, who is leaving very shortly for her new home in tho Auckland district. Pong* were given durinc the aftornoon by Mesdanips Larsen, Monoghnn, the Misses Little, Moore, Tfalliday, and Tulloch. Tea was dispensed in the l>illimrd and drawing rooms, and afterwards Mrs Crewe presented Mrs. Johanson with a travelling rug as a token of regard from her Friends in Pahmtiin. Mrs. Crewe expressed the hope that it would prove very nseful, and wished Mrs. Johnnsnn good luck in her new home. Amonc those present were MesdamesMlliday, Tayne, Cook, Sinclair, Omham, "r w T*men, Belts, IFankins, .Tulloch, Wake/nan, Bisset, Stubbs, Dobb.o, Girdwood. Eceeleton, Monoghjin E B liiißton. and the Missrs Bissct, North, Pnttlc, Little, Arrow, Tulloch, and Halliday.