GUY FAWKES DAY PENNIES

Southland Times, Issue 24243, 28 September 1940, Page 8

GUY FAWKES DAY PENNIES

USE FOR PATRIOTIC PURPOSES APPEAL TO CHILDREN A suggestion that school children should forgo their Guy Fawkes celebrations this year and divert the money usually spent in this direction to patriotic purposes was considered at a meeting of the Southland Education Board yesterday. “The cause is undoubtedly a worthy one and should be commended to the school children in our district,” said the chairman (Mr S. Rice).

A copy of an appeal made by the head master of the Dominion Road school asking the children to forgo their celebrations on November 5 and divert funds usually dissipated in this direction to patriotic purposes was received from the Dominion Road School Committee, Auckland.

“I am making a call for a great sacrifice on your part, but I feel confident that you will stand by me and make the sacrifice for the honour of our school, of which I am sure you are so proud,” stated the appeal. “I have been a youngster myself, and I have not forgotten the great fun it was to collect, a penny for the guy. Then after a few weeks of preparing the great bonfire heap the big night came. The bonfire was lit and the fireworks for which I saved the pennies were sent blazing into the sky. Boys and girls, those were happy days and I do' not forget them. I know that you all look forward to the sth of November.

“This year, as you know, our beloved flag, the Union Jack, is in danger. A merciless foe wants to tear it down and trample it in the dust. Brave men have left the sunny land of New Zealand to fight this cruel foe. “I know that every boy and girl in this school would like to help to ■ win the war. You can. Go and collect your money for the sth of November, Guy Fawkes Day, but this year hand over all your collections to the school’s Patriotic Fund. Boys and girls, I cannot say that you must do this, but I do ask, ‘Will you volunteer to do it?’ Every boy and girl will be supplied with a tin in which to put collections and on November 5, at 9 o’clock, these I tins will be deposited at the foot of the flag as you march into school.”