RED CROSS COPPER TRAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1918, Page 2

RED CROSS COPPER TRAIL.

ADDRESS BY MRS T. M. WILFORD. There was a large attendance at the Soldiers' Club on Tuesday night when Mrs T. M. Wilford, of Wellington, gave an address dealing with Bed Cross work and urging support for the "copper trail' challenge, as a means of raising further money in support of the Red Cross work. Dr Leatham, who presided, said he was gratified at the large attendance of the public, which showed how <rreat was the interest in the work of the Red Cross. He referred briefly to the organisation of the work in England and America, and emphasised that the present needs of the British Red Cross were even greater than ever.

Mrs Wilford, who was very enthusiastically received, said it was up to everybody to aimc self and work in the interests of the men at the front. She then stated that the "copper trail" was not any local appeal from Wellington, but embraced the British Red Cross "Our 1 U was well know " that the Bed Cross needed more funds than ever to-day. The latest offensives by tho enemy had made heavy demands on the organisation. Last year the Red Cros s was £i 87;000 beh . ndj Md it was believed that an appeal was to be made i?n, W ll Zealand this y° ar for £IOO,OOO. When that was realised, it became necessary to consider ways and means, and the copper trail" which, although not new, had been decided upon, in order to get away from the need for raffles and competitions, and so give the people an opportunity to straight-out giving to the Red Cross, and to allow poor people the chance of contributing. The appeal was based upon the rivalry between Wellington and Auckland, and if the Z 8 H Would mean aß ™ of! £97,000 would be raised, or practically all the contribution asked for, apart from what might be raised in the South Island. She did not suggest that it mS. a 1 ?? re than was Whether Auckland or Wellington won the challenge did not really matter, so long as the money was raised. The speaker then narrated the steps taken in Wellington in connection with raising the money for the "trail," telling of a little central house which was used regularly as a receiving centre for funds. The balding had been provided and equipped entirely free of cost, as was every other means of advertising and working the "trail." Mrs Wilford to da number of touching little stories relating to the bringing of pennies to tho ladies in charge of this little refWYing centre, especially the part taken by the school children, many of whom brought little donations in token of the service of their fathers in the firing

Mrs Wilford then proceeded to tell something of the actual work of the Red Cross at the front and in England, and aUo the part taken in connection with, the case of prisoners of war. She said the amonnt spent last year by the organisation was £BOOO per day, and the cost of administration was only 4} per cent. That did not come out of the pubho contributions, but from interest, for as soon as the money was received 'from branches, it was invested and so made interest bearing. Mrs Wilford then said that in the 'copper trail" challen.se there were no set method of raising, the money. Local districts could adopt what means thev chose in order to raise the money. It had also been arranged to keep the accounts of eaeli district and also each organisation separate, and the amounts raised would be credited to the districts which made the contribution. Tt was suggested that there should be a citizens' committee, not merely a Red Cross committee. At present the Auckland province was leading with a mileage of 33 miles along the trail. Wellington's contributions represented 27 miles.

Mrs Wilford concluded with an expression of thanks for the patient hearing accorded her, and appreciation of ;"the work done by tihe New 'Plymouth district for the Red Cross. (Applause.) The Ven. Archdeacon Evans, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs Wilford for her address, referred to his own experiences on active service, and paid a glowing tribute to the work done by the Red Cross. The motion was carried with acclamation.

The Rev. F. C. Harvie moved that the Mart takings on Saturday last should be devoted to the copper trail fund. The chairman intimated that the Executive had approved of the idea to devote the amount to the "trail." In answer to a question Mrs Wilford said the appeal would definitely clote on October 18. She also stated that 10 pennies measured a foot, 30 a yard, and that £220 represented a mile. A collection taken up in the room rpalisod £3O ]s Rrt. A vote of thanks to the chair, and the singing of the National Anthem concluded the meeting.