"OUR DAY APPEAL."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 October 1918, Page 7

"OUR DAY APPEAL."

THE AUCKLAND EFFORT.

Although the war newß is such that it makes one think the end much nearer, the public must remember that Red Cross work is one of the war departments that, as soon as peace is <ledared, must expect its inflow of subscriptions to diminish, although hospital, convalescent homes, and kindred institutions will have to he maintained for a much longer period. Large sums must be assured, not merely for those purposes, but to meet jthe heavy cost of demobilisation.

j The whole of the Enipire is confronted with a task still greater than any it ! has yet faced. The continuous growth of tho British armies in all theatres of the war calls for greater expenditure to meet the needs to which the Red Cross ministers.

The average man in the 6trect does not [realise the enormous amount of voluntary work going on in his own city. In the last three years 4000 cases of extra .clothing, food stuffs, eta, have been shipped from Auckland to hospitals abroad, and the whole cost of carting, freight, insurance, and delivering at its destination was only £5. During the. last 12 monthsi eight tons of besAruit cake lias been dispatched to London, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. A new feature in regard to this year's effort will be a Red Cross "movie" picture, showing the arrival of a hospital ship at Auckland—the wounded landing, Ministering Committee supplying comforts. Red Cross Ambulance cars and scenes at the annexe.

The New Zealand house flag for wives and mothers of soldiers at the front, or who have been to the front, is already causing great interest, and many appliaTJL 8 hBVe alrea<l y bee " made for it. Although the country district* up to date, through the provincial campaign, have paid in £107,000, several offers have been made from tho country districts to help the city effort. Arrangements are well in hand for the street effort ou October 25, and, riven a line day, the ladies should easily dispose ot their wares.