RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 9

RETURNED SOLDIERS' CLUB

* YESTERDAY'S APPEAL. The prospect which faced the stallholders and collectors vho were working yesterday for the Returned Soldiers' Club appeal was not a particularly promising one. Showers, a cold wind, and general greyness are not "factors that usualjy make for an open heart and an open purse, as patriotic workers have experienced, and it was with the feeling that they would have to work hard for the money that everyone set to work, determined to make the best of things. Fortunately, however, as the day advanced the weather improved, and vory encouraging results were met with, so that the vision of the .E2OCO which it was hoped to realise as a result of the appeal began to take tangible form. Most of the stalls had been erected, the previous evening, and the various organisations of women who were taking charge of them were able to stock them "bright and early" with their goods. The display they made of home-made produce, cakes, sweets, flowers, vegetables, sewing of all kinds, etc., was very attractive, the vegetables particularly making a brave show. Of these the stall which was in charge of the Hutt Patriotic Guild.was quito a market garden in appearance, so large a variety of vegetables did it have, apart from other' goods. Balloons, for tho supply of which Mrs. Martin was rospon-, Bible, gave vivid touches of colour to the streets wherever they appeared, and as-much as .£l7 was realised by their sale. Another decorative feature comprised, barrows of flowers, which were taken into the streets, and by means of them Mrs. D. T. Stewart and her helpers made at .least £20. The collection cards brought in very satisfactory amounts, one of the collectors handing over a sum of ,£25, which wns extremely good work, seeing that all that had been asked far from.each person wa6 one shilling, though at the same tirao thero was no unwillingness to accept more than that sum. The collecting boxes also materially assisted to swell tie proceeds.

Very much appreciation was expressed of the Boys' Institute Band, the members of whicn played at_ each- stall in the morning and again in the street* in the afternoon. Their services were of undoubted help in drawing attention, if it were needed, to the appeal which was being made, and brightened things considerably. For lunch they were the guests of the club, as were all the workers who chose to take advantage of the hospitality offered them. Mrs. De Castro and Mrs.: Harper, who were in charge there, had a very busy day. It is expected that as a result of the appeal a sum somewhat exceeding J3700 will be realised. There are still a few amounts to be received from some of the stalls, so that their totals cannot yet be recorded, nor that of the flag collection. Mr. Bayfield was the head of the finance committee, and he and his helpers also had an extremely busy day.