"POOR AND NEEDY.'"

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 165, 14 July 1928, Page 10

"POOR AND NEEDY.'"

GREAT DRIVE FOR CLOTHES.

TRIUMPH FOR TRAVELLER S.

MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE.

PROBABLY £2000 IX CASH,

The policy of doing '"big things in a big way" was vindicated in Auckland to-day when the Commeicial Traveller and \\ arehousemen's Association carried out their great clothes drive in the interests of the poor and needy. This has bven a hard winter in Auckland, and the call lias never been more urgent.

In addition to thousands of parcels of clothes donated, the cash collections, which are being counted as the "Star" goes to press, are estimated to yield close ou £2000.

With the feeling of '"something attempted, something done" about 1500 voluntary workers sat down to their well-earned luncheons to-day with the comforting thought that what they had accomplished lie t ween 8 and 1 o'clock was Well worth while. It was a wonderfully organised and speedily executed drive, which reflects the greatest credit upon the organisers and upon every person who took part. The generous respouse of the public was wonderful, and called forth the admiration of workers in all of the 57 blocks throughout the city and suburbs.

Never before has an organisation achieved so much in so short a space of time. Nothing was left to chance. Thoroughness was the keynote. The whole of the metropolitan district had been carefully mapped and blocked, each area having its own captain, who was responsible for the organisation of that particular area. Depots had been established for every district, and approximately 500 motor vehicles had been placed at the disposal of the organisation for a house-to-house canvass ol every street in which the drive was made. I Everybody Helping. . A most gratifying feature was the splendid work done by the Boy Scouts and the Sea Scouts, who accompanied the various vehicles to facilitate the collection of the parcels. Their efforts were untiring. "They were simply splendid," said one of the captains, "and I do not think the drive could have been accomplished so effectively without their aid." These were not the only helpers. The Returned Soldiers' Association, for instance, had fifty members of their organisation at work, and also provided some of the cars and trucks, while the Auckland Interhouse Girls' Fports Association, under the leadership of Miss E. L. Wagner, carried out a collection with boxes in the city area, visiting aH the offices, shops and factories. These workers, whose energies fully matched their charm, descended upon the Winter Exhibition in force during the forenoon, and had the satisfaction of coming a\»av with boxes which were much heavier than when they entered. People's Geaerous Response. In this big undertaking time was the essence of the contract. By S o'clock every helper was at his post. The first signs of activity were in the suburbs where' the motor cars speeded up and down streets which are unusued to so much early-morning activity, and made calls at every house. In many instances parcels had been placed on the door-steps labelled. "For the poor and needy." Where this was not done officers rang the door bells, and it is the testimony of all workers that where goods could not be given cash was forthcoming, and hardly in any case was anyone "turned empty away." Even the weather seemed to smile with favour on the big undertaking. As motor cars returned to the subruban depots the parcels were quickly unloaded, and in the absence of rain much handling was saved by depositing them on the footpaths in front of the depots. They were then collected bv large motor trucks and conveyed to the central depot at tho Drill Hall, where a large staff was kept actively employed throughout the forenoon unloading, fumigating and sorting. Fumigated and Sorted. The Health Department was responsible for carrying out the process of disinfecting, and a number of Boy Scout* found keen enjoyment in operating the pumping sprays/ Other willing lads discarded their uniform headgear and looked quaint as they assisted in heaving the parcels on to the central pile while attired in "buns," opera hats and bell-toppers. The central depot opened sharp at 8 o'clock, and within the first half minute an ancient "Lizzy" speeded proudly in with the first of the morning's collection. Thereafter it was a question of "wait your turn." The yard of the Drill Hall was at times crowded with trucks piled high with the miscellany of the extensive campaign. There were cars of every age and variety, "baby" cars, two-seaters, four-seaters and moreseaters; there were trucks with capacity ranging from half a ton to five tons. One diminutive vehicle caused amusement by depositing a box which was just about as big as its interior. An effective comparison was provided by one of the largest trucks in Auckland, which was piled so high as to resemble a well-loaded wagon on a hay field. Scene at Central Depot. Although the distribution of the goods is not to be carried out' before Monday, social workers who looked in by way of gratifying their interest must have felt their hearts glow at the spectacle. The huge lloor resembled more than anything else scenes which were witnessed during the war when parcels were being assembled and dispatched to the soldiers. The sorting process was perhaps one of the most difficult tasks, and seemed to be never ending. Boots were placed in one pile, hats in another, food elsewhere, mattresses in a special corner, and there was even a stand for perambulators (one of which contained the humorous I label, "Not needed further.")

The hat pile was particularly interesting, as it represented styles ranging over many years. There were boots with soles which carried their owners over many a mile, and other boots which had not even "been worn. Some of the thousands of parcels contained wearing apparel which had obviously beer handed over long liefore its life of usefulness had expired.

This and almost countless numbers ol woollen articles will no doubt be appreciated by those who are thinly clad this winter. Many people have been thoughtful enough to send quilts, blankets, and even eiderdowns. One quaint donation was a piano-stool. Query: Where is the piano that awaits it ? Many notices were received of places where bedsteads and other furniture might be picked up for the tailing.

The Widow's Mite. Columns might l>e written concerning incidents of the drive, and especially of the warm-hearted response of the people as a whole. This, however, may be summed up in the words of one of the collectors. '"We collected 400 parcels in our car ftoiu one of the suburban areas and did not meet with one refusal. Where clothing was not available cash was given. In one case a lady said that her husband had been «ut of work for five months, and they had three children. She said she would like to give something for those in need, and handed me Od. I did not want to accept it, but as the desire to participate was so evident I took the coin. Another lady *aid that thev were passing through hard times, but they had saved 10/ out of her husband's wages. I will never in all my fife be a pessimist. An experience like this shows that the heart of the people is sound." All Effort Voluntary. The whole of the work was voluntary. Lars and trucks were given freelv to the number of about 500, even by city firms and taxi proprietors. " e The secretary (Mr. J. A. Cahill), who has had a busy time during the past week, states that it will greatlv help the association if any people have been missed and they wish parcels called for /.'rT rm -; tl,e "^ociation's telephone <40-.i4.,i and arrangements will be made to pick up further parcels on Mondav. . At >°rth Shore the effort was equal in proportion to that on the citv side. ,and it seemed as though praeticallv every person with a motor car had placed it at the disposal of the comnuttee for the forenoon. The distribution will be on a %vj(le community basis, and will be made through the various social organisation* ol the citv and suburbs next week. A noticeable feature in the effort today was that everybody appeared to be so keen on the general success of the effort as to pass lightly over individual service. One ni:i who wore a ■=mile as the central pile increased at he Drill Ha'l was Mr. VV. H. PrentH 'he nopular president of the association 1 him Here a'soci.itpf] a.s organisers the movement Mr. A. Thomson, pasoresident, and Mr. Glover-Hark, as vicepresident. Mr. A. J. Campbell organised the ladies drive, which was divided into fiftv sections. r I he collections of f .,idi have all been handled by Mr. M. D. Grav, honorarv treasurer of the a>-o< iat ion." A Package of Coppers. One penny lias no more value than another in the market, but a commercial traveller who received a child's small contribution in the course of his house-to-house canvass in Coronation Road this morning felt that a small bundle of coppers he received was worth pounds. When the collector reached one house a small boy of five or six was waiting for him and he eagerly produced a grubby package of coins—pennies ha pennies, and even farthings—which he had been saving ever since the travellers' drive was announced. He had them stuffed m his pocket and before he went to sleep last night he pleaded that if the collector came early he should be allowed to get out of bed and hand over his contribution himself. Subsidy Of £200. Mr. W. H. Prentis, president of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen!, Association, sent the ludowing telegram to the Prime Minister vested drL , « lgantic cash »»d clothes drive for the poor and needy of Auckland takes place to-morrow. The collection covers the whole of Auckland distiict, and will employ 1.300 workers, 400 car *, and 54 wagons. Anticipate ecoid collection of clothes, but state of business generally means small collection hpb'v ah Government possibly p. - II newspapers have given tlie waits s «l>P<> rt . Our association aits to-morrow with confidence. Favourable leply from Government would be greatly appreciated." The following reply arrived this afternoon:— Government will subsidise £ i f /' P , i - 200 towards your effort — •>. O. toates. Probably £2000 Cash. The club rooms were the scene of nmch activity this afternoon, a big staff being engaged in counting the cash collections. Up to the time of going to press no announcement eould be made as to the amount subscribed, but observers estimated that close on £2000 had been secured. u Seen late this afternoon, Mr. Pren«w 8a th ,® result had been wonderful. We can always depend upon the Auckland public, he added. "The magnificent result m this, the worse winter we have had, exceeds all expectations. We will be counting the cash all the afternoon. _ e poblic have been most generous. I only have progress reports so far and cannot say what money has actually been donated, but from present indications it will be well over £1000, and probably be nearer £2000 when everything is 'washed up'."