“OUR DAY" APPEAL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9795, 19 October 1917, Page 8

“OUR DAY" APPEAL

ANOTHER BIG EFFORT HARD WORK DONE BUT BUSINESS SLACK. October ISth wa* observed all over the British Dominion as the day for collections in aid of tho work of the British Red Cross Society. In Wellington many efforts have been made lately for the samo purpose, which culminated yestcrdav in a street collection for the cause, aided by bands, street concerts, and every device that could bo thought of to extract coin from tho citizen who had to bo abroad in' tho streets.

The Eight, Hon. W. F. Massey began tho campaign by a speech delivered from tho front of the Government Buildings. He was introduced by the Mayor (Mr J. P. Luke. C.M.G.i, who briefly outlined tho object of tho effort and extolled the work of the Red Cross organisation. Mr Massey said there was no nobler work than that -Which was being assisted. He had visited St. Dunstan’s Hospital for tho blind while in England, and seen tin, groat work being done there. Mr Mas. se.v spoke of the bravery of the Do. minion soldiers, and said it was tho duty of the State to look after tho dependents of these men and this would bo done. He then read a letter from Ills Majesty King George, speaking of the great work of tho Red Grots, and the devotion of its workers, men and women. After speaking of the great need, the King said: —“I trust therefore there will bo no falling off of generous financial support on the part of everyone at Homo and in the Dominions Overseas -without which this -work cannot bo maintained." The King has sent .£SOOO to the Red: Cross each year on October 20th. This year he has increased his donation to jgiO.OOO as a mark of his apprecia--1 tion and sense of tho importance of continuing tho work. _ , Cheers were given for the King and the Prime Minister. Tha elemcmifcs yesterday were decidedly unfavourable, and the Indies who were in charge of the Stalls deserve every praise for sticking to their disagreeable task. In many cases when the stalls were put up the wind blew them down or scattered their contents on the ground, so that there was much work before they were finally arranged. Flowers had 1 a bad time, and beautiful blooms were in some oases quite spoilt before they had a chance of being sold- All these drawbacks the sellers could have borne quite cheerfully, however, had the public been in generous mood, but either tho disagreeable weather or the fact that there have been too many collections lately cfosed the pockets of many of those abroad and the extracting of coin was a verv difficult matter. Everywhere the stallholders reported that business was slack

Thera were some very fine wares for sale in many places. Near the Government Buildings tho Women’s National Reserve had stalls, all branches being represented under the president. Dr Platfcs-Mills. Mrs M. Holmes had some very dainty dolls’ clothes for sale, and little sets of patterns for these were sold at Is each Mrs Brine, Mrs Willis, Mrs Moore, Mrs McKenzie and. others representing Wadestown, Karori, Johnsonville and the suburbs branches were busily at work. Mrs Porter, the organising secretary, helped in the arrangements. Scoullar and 00. lent tables for the stalls. The Navv League was responsible- for two stalls; at Kirkoaldie’s, where Mrs Hall-Thompson, Mrs Richardson and other meimlbers of the ladles’ auxiliary were in charge, and at Woodward street, ■where Mrs Gibbons and Mrs Leicester had a large number of helpers. Two large bran tuba here added considerably to the takings and balloons were largely sold. They lent a carnival-like aspect to the stall. Mrs W Nathan Mrs A. Pearce and helpers from the Mercer street depot were stationed at Kelburn avenue. Besides many .fresh flowers they had a’quantitv of little artificial buttonholes, which sold quite readily. At tho Bank of Now Zealand comer other Red Cross workers under Mrs L. Blundell, Mrs M, Myers and Mrs Tripp had a stand, their wares being chiefly flowers, and they had a large quantity, some lovely- sprays of lilac amongst them. At the main G.P.O. entrance Mrs J. P. Luka and the Citizens’ Service League had a stall, selling cakes sweets, flowers, etc., and at the wharf side of the Post Office the Seatoun Red Cross Guild, under Mm Puller, gave assistance.

Tho Catholic Knitting Guild, under Miss Kennedy (president) and Miss Wheeler (secretary) had their usual stand at Boulcott street corner. They had several stalls for sweets (under Mrs Somerville), cakes (under Mrs Sullivan), produce, needlework, etc. All were decorated. the produce with tall strands of flax tied with rod and blue ribbons, looking very effective. Mrs Bolton had several raffles in hand, and Mrs Bylands was once more responsible for two flags, which, tied to verandah posts, helped to wheedle coin from the nassers-by. She is much indebted to Captain Munro, of tho Harbour Board, for assistance. At tne Bank of New Zealand, Te Aro corner, Mrs Partridge had a stall, and at Courtenay place tho Wellington Nursing Division of St. John, under Mrs Seftan Mooflhouse, were in charge. A speciality of eggs had been made at this stall, and some had been donated by Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool. These were sold in baskets specially made of crinkled paper to represent “black and white swans. The N.Z.N.A. Ladies’ Guild had a stall at Veitch and Allan’s comer, and at Newtown Mr s D. McLaren was iii charge of a stall with several helpers. Badges were sold everywhere, and in many cases were more easily disposed of than any other commodity. All day long the Trcntham and Featherston Military Bands paraded the streets, helping to make tho day a gala one. The Pierrots came out during the morning on a decorated lorry, and sang and fooled, giving entertainments at every street corner to extract more coin. In tho afternoon the Stanhope Revue Company took their places and did a bit more in the direction of money getting. The Commercial Travellers had a lorry much decorated with red, white, and blue. A number of ladies, armed with long poles, to each of which was affixed a bag to receive money, did good work with these among the crowd that collected. A large pair of scales was placed on the lorry; on one side a chair was fixed, in which sat a wounded soldier, while on the other was a box for tho coin, which it was expected would outweigh the soldier. A novelty in the procession, which formed again and again, going from point to point, was a Canadian sleigh dog drawing a sleigh, on which stood a basket for the receipt of pennies, while two donkeys, with ride panniers labelled for the same purpose, were also led about.

The Red Cross Shop on Lambton quay lent its aid. Miss Cooper and Miss Moss held their usual sale of flowers there, whilo a tea and luncheon room was established under Mrs Joseph Joseph, Mrs Firth. Miss Elliott, and other Red Cross workers. They had a busy time all day serving their many customers, including the workers from many of the stalls near. The sura of .£l2 was taken, while the flowers fetched .£lO 10s, and with a contribution sent by the Miramar ladies of some .£l3 made a good total for the day. The Petone Ambulance and Nursing Division came into town about midday, tinder Mr McCulloch. They had a novel motor vehicle, a stall fixed on low wheels, painted white, with a wire railing and counters ready. They sold

sweets and badges and other goods, making good money for the cause. Tho “Charley’s Aunt” Club again assisted, Messrs Norman Aitken, Albert Russell, and others giving street concerts and taking up a collection. During the day monev came in but slowly, most of the stalls preferring to keep their takings until the end of the day. The staff of the Bank of Australasia again assisted by receiving the money as it was sent to headquarters. ABOUT .£IOOO RAISED. As a result'of the street collecting and the torchlight procession hold yesterday in aid of "Our Day” Red Cross funds, about £IOOO was realised. Mr Phelps stated that the money had proved a difficult task to collect, and fell short of expectations. TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION Large Crowds watched last night’s torchlight procession in aid of the Red Cross funds. The procession, which started from Post Office square at 7.45, was headed bv the Trentham Military Band, under tho direction of Sergeant-Major Fox. They were followed bv a naval detach, ment hauling a gun, and a lorry conveying New Zealand nurses. The Wellington Patriotic Society’s Band, bearing torches, also took part, and also the Featherston Military Band. The main feature of the procession was the elaborately-decorated lorrv built by the .employees of the Petone’ Railway Workshops, which was gaily decorated with electric lights, flags and flowers, and was in charge of ladies gaily dressed in fancy costumes and engaged in collecting contributions. At the rear of the procession were decorated motorlorries and motor-cycles. The procession resulted in a considerable sum being collected for a worthy cause.