POPPY DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 96, 24 April 1922, Page 7

POPPY DAY.

AUCKLAND BUYS FREELY. 45,000 FLOWERS SOLD. From her Excellency Viscountess Jellicoe downwards remarkable enthusiasm was shown in Auckland in the scheme to raise money to help returned men by selling the imitation Flanders poppies made by war widows and orphans in France. Before the morning was half over the whole 45,000 poppies which were allotted to Auckland bf the Dominion Executive of the Returned Soldiers' Association had been issted from the R.S.A. headquarters in Albert Street, and the lot found wearers, thanks to the energy of the ladies who were stationed at various points in the city and suburbs. Mrs. J. H. Gunson, the Mayoress, had her station opposite Milne and Choyce, and two of her helpers were the daughters of their Excellencies the Governor-General and Viscountess Jellicoe. Splendid business was done in Queen Street, and before the day was half gone there were very few people not wearing one of the scarlet flowers. The large flowers were sold at 2/ each, but the great majority of the flowers were of the buttonhole size, and sold at 1/ each. About £2500 should be raised in Auckland as the result of the day. After meeting expenses a quarter will go to the French women and children who made the flowers, and the remainder will be devoted to finding work for unemployed returned men. The supply of poppies received for New Zealand was nearly 400,000, and if all be sold the sum of about £20,000 will be raised.