BATTLE OF BULLION.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1915, Page 6

BATTLE OF BULLION.

TARANAKI CARNIVAL SCHEME. FIGHT FOR £50,000. PROPOSAL FOR NEXT FEBRUARY. Arrangements arc developing in the scheme by which Taranaki will make a special effort to provide a large sum for the wounded soldiers. It is proposed to hold a big carnival, probably in February, with the aim of securing £50,000. At first glance the amount seems a large one, but when it is remembered what other districts have done there is no reason why Taranaki should not find £30,000. In Invercargill recently over £OO,OOO was collected, Wanganui is aiming at £50,000, and Auckland is rapidly neariug the quarter million mark. In most cases the medium for raising money has been a Queen Carnival, but it is not likely that this will be done here. The scheme which appeal* to those who have the matter in hand is that which Wanganui has adopted—a Battle of Bullion, the gojl being HiU £50,000. It is also probable that Mr. W. Lints, who is organising the Wanganui Carnival, will be employed to manage the Taranaki Carnival. The plan of campaign, for Taranaki will bo set out at the first meeting of the Taranaki War Relief Association, when more details will be available. The scheme for a Battle of the Bullion provides for the organisation of an army by each body of the community, and the tussle will be provided by competition in increasing each army. To provide an army money is employed on the following basis: —The armies represented by the money paid in by the rival righting armies, in accordance with a definite scale of value, as: 200 privates at Is each, £10; 1G lance-corporals at £l, £10; 10 corporals at £2, £2O; 8 sergeants at £5, £4O; one quartermas-ter-sergeant at £lO, £10; two lieutenants at £2O, £4O; ono captain at £O4, £O4; total £2OO. This is the constitution of a company. Four companies constitute a regiment ( £800), for which, in addition, there must be provided one major ( £75) and one colonel ( £125), making the value of a complete regiment £IOOO. Every shilling given represents a soldier, and, roughly speaking, £lO adds 200 men to the srength of the army for whose benefit the amount is paid at headquarters. Every section of workers must, however, provide a regiment (£1000), and then increase it with men and officers in proportion. The army whioh can show the largest scoring army at the conclusion of the campaign will be the winner of Hill £50,000. While each section pays in to strengthen its own army, the conditions provide that money may be employed to weaken an army that has become too strong. This, briefly, sets out the idea, but the full details of how the scheme will be worked will be made public later. There is some doubt if aH parts of Taranaki will enter into the scheme to make a big united effort, but if this cannot be done as many counties as possible will be taken. The preliminary organisers in New Plymouth have entered on the project with enthusiasm, and it is hoped the district will take up the scheme and make a splendid effort for the wounded soldiers.