ARMISTICE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 96, 20 October 1926, Page 11

ARMISTICE DAY

SALE OF ROSES

ALLOCATION OF PBOCEEDS.

During tho past two years the proceeds of the sale of roses on Armistice Day have been devoted to the Citizens' War Memorial Fund, but with the closing of that campaign tho question arose as to what purpose tho Bose Day funds should be put to, in the future. A public meeting was called by tho Mayoress last evening to consider the matter, and it was decided that in future 50 per cent, of the amount collected on Bose Day be allocated to the Eeturned Soldiers' Association benevolent fund, and that the remaining 50 per cent, be divided equally between the Women's National Reserve and the Wellington Free Kindergarten. The meeting was well attended by those who had contributed to the success of Bose Day in the past. The Mayoress (Mrs. Norwood) presided, and among those present were Colonel Hall and Major Watson, of the Beturned Soldiers' Association. Mrs. Norwood briefly outlined her objects in calling the meeting. The proceeds of the sale of roses on Armistice Day in the past, stated Mrs. Norwood, had gone towards tho War Memorial Fund. That fund, however, no longer required assistance, but it seemed a pity that Bose Day should not be continued. It had been decided to carry on with Bose Day, and the question was what should be done with the funds. Armistice Day was kept essentially for the returned soldiers, and always would be. The object of Bose Day was to obtain funds for some worthy cause, and, of course, there could be no more worthy cause than that of the returned soldiers. Unlike most other organisations, the Beturned Soldiers' Association, however, did not wish to derive the whole benefit from the sales. The meeting would have to decide what the funds should be devoted to. Major Watson (secretary of the 8.5.A.) said that the money collected on Bose Day had been given towards the fund raised for the purpose of erecting a memorial in Wellington to perpetuate the memory of the 1700 men of Wellington who did not come back from the war. In 1924, continued Major Watson, the scheme was inaugurated, and they collected £1100 from the sale of th£ roses. In 1925 another Bose Day was held on Armistice Day. Although this year things had been left a little late, he thought it would be wrong to let Armistice Day go by. The War Memorial Committee did not now require assistance. The Beturned Soldiers' Association was very closely allied with the Women's National Beserye from many points of view, and it was felt that the association should join with some body to continue Bose Day. ONE APPEAL SUFFICIENT. "Probably some of you wonder why the question of the allocation bf the funds has been taken up again tonight/ said Colonel Hall, "after having had a meeting last week and deciding to what purpose the Bose Day funds should be devoted. I might say in justice to Mrs. Norwood that she stated she could not be a party to a meeting that was not called by public announcement. ... It has been very graciously said that the whole of the amount collected on Bose Day should go to the Beturned Soldiers to form the nucleus of a benevolent fund. As president of the Beturned Soldiers' Association, I very much appreciate the kind offer. We appeal to the public on one day already, however —Poppy Day—and a sum of between £1500 and £2000 is collected then to enable relief to be given to soldiers out of work. Because of the grand response we get from the people of Wellington on Poppy Day, we think it would be wrong for us to take the offer you have made that we should be given the whole proceeds of the Bose Day appeal." Continuing, Colonel Hall said that a benevolent fund would be of great benefit. He cited a case in which a returned soldier had lost his wife and had no money to pay for a coffin. Tho B.S.A. was unable to help him because it had no benevolent fund. It would be a great thing if a benevolent fund was created to help su«h cases. Miss Black moved that the business transacted at the previous meeting be annulled. This was carried. Miss Black thought that as there were representatives of other organisations present, their views on the subject should be heard. The Women's National Beserve, however, certainly would not refuse the offer of a portion | of the Bose Day fund. ASSISTANCE TO KINDERGABTEN. Miss Cable (a representative of the Wellington Free Kindergarten) asked whether it would be possible for the kindergarten to share in the proceeds if a large amount was collected. The kindergarten, she felt, was a worthy object, and _t present was expanding in all directions. Mrs. M'Hugh said she thought that the money raised should go to tho Women's National Beserve and the Beturned Soldiers' Association. After some further discussion it was decided that 50 per cent, of the sale of roses on Armistice Day be devoted to the B.S.A. benevolent fund, 25 per cent, to the Women's National Reserve, and 25 per cent, to the Wellington Free Kindergarten. Major Watson announced that there were 8000 roses in hand. Arrangements were made for the making of roses, and a number of ladies were elected to fill necessary offices.