POOR RESPONSE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21227, 25 September 1940, Page 6

POOR RESPONSE

LONDON DISTRESS FUND DONATIONS IN HAMILTON ONLY £207 IN HAND “With only £207 4s 6d in hand since the appeal opened about a week ago, the Hamilton response to the ‘London distress fund has been very disappointing,” said the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro, today when commenting on the result of the appeal in Hamilton. “Towns with much smaller populations than that in Hamilton have come forward more freely and have shown that they are prepared to make a real effort to assist the Londoners who have had to take the brunt of the attack from the Nazis. “We in New Zealand, being thousands of miles from the theatre of war, can hardly realise what those Londoners have had to endure during the last few weeks,” said Mr Caro, “but if we allow our minds to go back to the horrors of the Napier earthquake, which was closer to home, we might get some faint conception of the terrors that the daily life of today can hold for the Londoner. All their waking hours are pursued by the thought of what the next few minutes might bring from across the Channel, but in spite of that they have borne themselves bravely and have shown a spirit which must be the envy of many other nations. A Wise Investment “Were that spirit to flag or fail there is no knowing what the turn of events might be. Upon their morale depends much more than can be seen on the face of things, and although we are thousands of miles distant we can help them keep up that morale by lightening the burden for them. Every penny we give in this cause is an investment in keeping the bonds of Empire intact, and we should see to it that subscriptions are not lacking. The future will assuredly show that it is a wise investment and one which can pay big dividends in peace and security.” London had already suffered 18 air raids, continued Mr Caro, and thousands had suffered as a result. The speaker appealed to the people of Hamilton to help as much as was possible toward the fund, and suggested that members of business firms could give great assistance by starting lists in their offices, shops and factories to give all members of the staffs an opportunity of subscribing to the cause. Such assistance would be invaluable and when handed over the money would considerably swell the Hamilton fund. The following donations to the Hamilton fund, which was opened by the Waikato Times last week, are acknowledged:—

I WELLINGTON’S RESPONSE WELL IN EXCESS OF QUOTA (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The air raid victims fund in Wellington has reached £9444 odd, as against the quota of £5075. All monies in excess of the quota will, in accordance with a Mayoral statement, be devoted to general patriotic purposes of a similar nature.

£ s d Previously acknowledged 169 4 6 Mr & Mrs D. Seymour .. 10 10 0 Robert Parr 10 0 0 Mr & Mrs F. P. Magan .. 5 0 0 •Mr & Mrs W. L. Waddel 5 0 0 Ngaruawahia Mission 2 9 0 Mr & Mrs E. H. Boneham 1 1 0 Glen Lyden 1 0 0 I.M.C.J 1 0 0 Invalid Widow 1 0 0 C.L.M 1 0 0 207 4 6