A BIG DRIVE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 3, 15 October 1940, Page 3

A BIG DRIVE

THE PATRIOTIC FUNDS. ASHBURTON’S CONTRIBUTION. FINAL DETAILS ARRANGED. The Ashburton Borough is now practically ready to start its big canvass to collect £SOOO as its share of the £1,000,000 asked for by the Government for patriotic purposes. Details < were finalised at a well-attended meeting of delegates in the Borough Council Chambers last night. Mr E. M. Gabites, who presided, said that Mr Harold Amos had been appointed secretary by the executive. For the house-to-house canvass, he said, the Borough had been divided into 22 blocks. Cards, signed by the Mayor or ■ Deputy-Mayor, would be given to each collector in charge. The following group collectors were appointed: Mesdames K. S. McEachcn, J. P. Boothroyd, F. Curtis, the Rev. A. Mcßean, Messrs A. Sutherland, S. G. Macfarlane, IS. J. Weeks, C. AVard, J. H. Millar, S. W. Gower, M. J. Leith, W. R. M. Stewart, R. Inch, H. Lane,, H. 'Stevens, Wt H. Sarney and A. C. Vincent.

The chairman said he had received a straight-out donation of £25 from Messrs Hefford and C0.,-and £2 2s from the Ashburton Badminton Club.

Mr AVard suggested that the people of the district should be warned when to expect collectors. The chairman said there were about 75 houses to a group, and the group collectors could be assisted by three or four others.

A motion by Mr S. AY. Gower that the main appeal take place between October 29 and November 2 was carried.. It was decided to send out a ‘‘dodger” on October 24 or 25, Rafffo Arranged. The chairman said that a raffle would be held, the first prize being £50.4' luvial gold, the second a radio set, given by Mr K, D. iVlcllraith and the third a chiming clock. There would also be several smaller prizes. Permission was given to the Red Cross Society to conduct the raffle. The Rev. A. Mcßean said that for , such an object people should be trusted to give straight out without tho “bait” of prizes. If they had money to give for raffles they had it to give in a direct manner.

In reply to a question the chairman said there would be no calls on business premies—therefore overlapping would be avoided. Thus a man who gave to a collector who called at his house would not be called on at his business. There were many young people in the town, however, who were giving nothing at all and their pockets should be “touched.” Mr M. J. Leith said the Borough School would undertake to provide a flag to be used in street collecting on Tuesdays and Fridays and to look after it.

The price of raffle tickets was fixed a t 6d. Mrs F. Curtis said the Hampstead, Allenton and Ashburton sub-branches of the Bed Cross Society would hold a function in the motor camping ground on November 2. Labour Day “Vacant.” In reply to a question Mr J. H. Millar (chairman of Ashburton Entertainments) said his committee did not propose to hold any entertainment on Labour Day and would hand that day, which it had previously booked, back to the Borough. He suggested somo form of military display and a small charge at the gate. Possibly some aeroplanes could be flown down from Wigram Aerodrome to make a display, he said.

The chairman said that in English schools the boys ran boxing tournaments on their own, charged admission money and handed the cash over to the Standard VI girls to make up comforts for the soldiers. It was decided to hold a further meeting of delegates on October 24, at 8 p.m.