TOWN'S GODFATHER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 131, 15 March 1933, Page 8

TOWN'S GODFATHER.

THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS. Mr Fred Cull, of Sydney, has given £g£o a year for 20 years toward the relief of distress in his native town of Stafford, England, but the last thing he desires is to talk about it. The "Sydney Daily Telegraph" learned of Mr Cull's generosity from a Wolverhampton newspaper.' Such benefactions it was hinted, had caused the far-off donor to he regarded in Stafford as a fairy god-mother, a land of colonial Santa Glaus. Mr Cull However, says that he is not necessarily of any interest to the public, and, as for his donations' to his native townwell, why talk about them? A sturdy man of about 70, with a firm yet kindly face, Mr Cull was hard at work in his office when the matter of his benefactions was broached. After a natural outburst of curiosity to learn how the information had leaked out, he , made a valiant attempt to end the interview before it had really begun. "Yes," said Mr Cull, "it is true enough that I have been sending money ■ for distress relief in Stafford for a quarter.of. a century of so, but that's not a matter of any interest in Sydney. I would much rather not talk about it." The interviewer: Why this particular affection for Stafford, Mr Cull? Mr Cadi: Well, it's my native town; isn't that sufficient? When did you leave Stafford?— About 50 years ago, but don't bother v about that. You've been back there pretty often? —No, I haven't. I've not been there for over 40 years. I'm a busy man.