GREAT RESPONSE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 10

GREAT RESPONSE

PATRIOTIC APPEAL

ABOUT £6000 EXPECTED

From all accounts —and it is still I difficult 1" get a complete picture as returns arc still coming in— .Auckland excelled itself yesterday in the big drive to raise funds for Iho Fighters' Mother patriotic campaign. Those w iih long experience in patriotic work are convinced that when the Una I figure is available a record will be shown. That figure lor the two groups, one representing the food and liquor interests, and the other warehouses, retail stores and the leather trade, is expected to be approximately JCGOOO. It is incorrect Lo say that the army of willing helpers and organisers j worked i nun oawn to dusk on this elTort. Many ot them toiled from dawn until one and two o'clock this morning. Group .-even had six concert parties conducting rallies in and around Queen Street, while 300 persons at. least were "oil deck" all the time most, of the day selling art union tickets. Aucklanders (and there were droves of country people in town, too, inc.tiding the delegates at the Farmers' Union conference) entered thoroughly into the spirit of giving, and "giving with a smile," and those who devoted so many long hours to the cause must feci well rewarded for their efforts. Working like Trojans and adopting a variety of methods to tempt the public, group seven had banked over £2000 up to a late hour last night, and this morning, after further sums had been received, the total amount collecicd by this group was stated to be .1:2<00. The proceeds of over 300 boxes have still to be counted. By the sale of lapel badges £1052 was realised, and the amount will be equally shared by the two groups. Collections t>y all sections in group four are not yet available, but this morning it was stated that almost all tickets in the £1000 art union had been disposed of, while a further £1000 was expected from other sources. Newmarket's collection, organised by the Mayoress, Mrs. S. Donaldson, totalled £77, excluding £22 from art union tickets, while the result of Otahuhu's appeal is still unknown. Group six, a very active body, comprising some of the leading patriotic organisations, has raised over £1900, but this figure is not included in yesterday's figures. Up to a late hour yesterday £240 had been received as a result of the patriotic auction conducted at Turners and Growers' marts, but the yield from a further auction this 'morning has yet to be tallied. Last night the manager's list conducted by the firm totalled £113. Further activities in connection with the campaign to achieve the district's quota of £127,000 will take place during the coming week, including a monster free fair to be held at the Town Hall next Friday. Over £00,000 must still be raised in the Auckland metropolitan area to reach the quota.