HELP FOR THE NEEDY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20733, 19 December 1932, Page 16

HELP FOR THE NEEDY.

ROTARY CLUB'S APPEAL. BAND CONCERT REALISES £llO. Every band in Christchurch took part in the concert held in the Christchurch Hospital grounds yesterday afternoon to aid the Rotary Club in its Christinas appeal for the needy families'in and around Christchurch. and many of them were at their full .strength." The Royal Christchurch Musical Society, too, assisted, and the COCO to 7000 people who attended contributed £llO. 2s Id, compared with £-f»7 odd las-t year. The Rotarians regard the result, as exceedingly satisfactory, for it was anticipated that tho collection would be below that of last vear. In the past the band convert "has been held alter the street appeal, but this year the club decided t» make a '-flying start" on its big appeal, which will take place in tho Utv streets on Friday. The parcels t. ( he made up for delivery to deserving families number about 1150. and th~ approximate value is £1 each, therefore the club aims at making tip £ll-30 by Friday night. A Bis Muster. \ll told bandsmen turned out, i„" addition to the members <>£ lhe Musical Society and tho concert was a distinctly memorable one. Rotarians and helpers maimed the gates, and those who Iclt inclined i.> dip into their purses still tur (icf v.-ore afforded air opportunity of. filling ■. Union Jack \wth coins at the invitation of members. Mr A. G Thompson conducted the Musical Society and the hands, with their strengths and conductors were as follows:—Derry s Milllarv Band, 40 (Mr H. Clafctono Hill); Christchurch Municipal Band, -'o (Mr F H. Buckler); Band of the lirst Canterbury Regiment 43 (Captain C. IToskins): Stan more Silver Bnnd, -'8 air J -V. Llovd); oolston Brass Band. 25 (Mr R. J. jfotall); Caledonian Pine Band. 22 (Pipe-Major C. Gibson): Scottish Society's Pipe Band, "0 (Pipe-Major J. McLachlan) • and (Tiristehuroli Scottish Pipe Band, 21 (Drum-Major S. Newton). Loudspeakers at the gates and in various part* of the grounds wero of great assistance, and tho afternoon s programme was-broadcast. A Worthy Object. Mr It. 13. Hean, secretary of the Bunds' Association, assembled the bands iu tiie Square, and SergeantMa jor A. L. Emerson was the marshal ui tho grounds. Knowing the worthiness ol tho Rotary Club's annual appeal, tho public began to arrive well i.elere 2.43 p.m.—the hour lor commencing the concert—and throughout tho afternoon there was a steady stream of visitors, The Christchurch uublio has had several years of experience of the Rotary Club's Christmas appeal, and there is no question ot the worthiness of the object, embracing as it does, orphans as well as distressed people. There is ample evidence of tho prevalence of distress in tho City and suburbs, and, by means of. Friday's street day. it is hoped to cope with the demand for assistance to a very large extent. Many people- who were once well-to-do arc now, owing to adverse circumstances, among those needing help at this time of tho year, and many of them, too, aro willing in assist, as is evidenced by a letter received ov the flub and read by the president.'Dr. H. G. Donham. yestcrdav afternoon. It stated that the family in question had been exceedingly grateful for the club's assistance last vear. and this vear it was able to torward ten shillings towards the cause.

Spirit of Generosity. ThoMayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) said that* during' the last two years his every public appearance seemed to be a "begging expedition," but this year ho had an exccU»it partner m Dr. Denham. "The doctor has a full Scottish ancestry, and I am sure that you will find that your Mayor is tame in comparison," said Mr Sullivan. ''The great -Rotary movement that is working in many countries of the world is appealing to you this week to aid Uio stricken people, of the community. 11. has given tbo orders for tho hampers, and it expects you to help it today and next Friday. The public of C'Jivistchnrch have given again and ji«ain to every appeal, but th«i clu\ •Joes not come before you to-day to tase advantage of your generosity. Its members know tho results of those bad times, and that there are people who will opend a cheerless Christmas, with still more cheerless days to follow, if they arc not assisted. People's Self-sacrifice. "1 know that you will not fail to respond. This City is one.of the most beautiful in the word, but its fame cannot rest simply on that. I feel that, when tho history of the depression comes to be written, the brightest star in that record will be the height of self-sacrifice of tho people in their endeavours to help their distressed felloweitizeus. Already tho people have been outstanding in "their kindness. The Rotarians and their helpers, the bands, have been most generous. We know t'Hstff amongst the players are some of iho best in the Emnire, and I am sure that nil of. you will join with me in thanking them andthe members of the dub for all they have done." (Applause.) Scope of Appeal Widened. ' Dr. Denham extended a welcome to tho public to tho 1932 massed uand concert. ,; I am sure you will carry away with you happy memories of ims 'fine performance," ho said. "The 'Rotary Club's appeal was commenced e|ght years ago, when we collected £~OO for the "benent of the children of the ■ orphanage;*. Wo then began to realise * that there were people other than those in the orphanages who were deserving of help, and the scope of the appeal i was widened. We have evolved a 'sclismo of hampers for'distribution to those who are up against it. Last year 125X3 hampers were distributed, and thi* year tho demand, is far greater. Already we have applications numbering 2-500. but the committee lias had to apply the pruning knife wherever passible to bring the number within the" capacity of the club. , *'lt has now been narrowed down to about 1150, and although we decided on gifts for 1000 we must make the . minimum 1150. A supplementary list has- been drawn up, and we * hope earnestly to put it into operation-. The Support of the public will cany us '- very long way- Task all those who are listening in to this broadcast to send in their chcouos promptly, ''. he task Is u tremendous one, and takes mare than a few hours. A little help in the next few dnys will do n deal of Rood on Chri&lmra Eve when rte hamper*! go out. People who have done social welfare work know full tret! hov urgently the goods are required.'* All Helpers Thanked. "''.. The speaker thanked the Mayor for hi» sympathy and assistance, and the mtmbets. of the . club for vtheir ever-

readv response to any appeal in the interests of others. His announcement that the appeal in the grounds had exceeded £IOO was received with applause. Dr. Denham concluded by thanking the bandsmen, the Musical Society, the Press for publicity, and the Hospital Board for throwing the grounds open. The Programme. The programme was as follows: — March, "Colonel Bogey" (Alford), massed bands, conductor, Mr A. Schnack; carol, "O Come, All Ye Faithful''; march, Strathspey ana reel: (a) "&3rd's Farewell to Edinburgh" (march), (b) "Diel in the. Kit-chaw" (strathspey), (c) "'Methven Castle" (reel), Caledonian Pipe Banu; chorus, "Awake the Hart" (from the "Creation"), Royal Christchurch Musical Society; march, "King's Bodyguard" (Ord Hume), and trombone solo, "Lend Me Your Aid" (Gounod), Berry's Military Band; variation ot the hymn "Beulah," band of-the First Canterbury Regiment; chorus, "And tlje Glorv of the Lord" (from the "Messiah") (Handel), Royal Christchurch Musical Society, selection, "Comrades in Arms" (Adam), Christchurch Municipal Band: (a) "Craigmillan Castle," (b) "The Taking of Beaumont Same,'' Christcliurch Scottish Pipe Band; selection, "II Bravo" (Mercadante), Stanmorc Silvor Band; selections: (a) "Dovecote Park," (b) "Green Hills of Tyrol," Scottish Society's Pipe Band: selection, "Le Etoile du Nord" (Meyerbeer), Woolston Brass Band; chorus, "Achieved is the Glorious Work" (from the "Creation," by Havdn), Royal Christchurch Musical Society; carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." HEAVY DEMAND UPON FUNDS. APPEAL FOR SPECIAL DONATIONS. With the assistance of a 'committee of social workers, the Rotary Club's committee has made a thorough examination of 2500 applications and has been forced to close its lists at 1150, excluding perhaps many deserving cases. This is unavoidable, the club's officers explain, as the collection or £IOOO on Friday next—the street collection "day—is quite an optimistic estimate, and a hamper of meat and bread runs into a cost of iiOs a family. Destitute families with two or more children are as far as possible provided for \. With a view to helping some very deserving cases at present excluded, the club appeals for special donations to be sent in by cheque to Mr L. G. K. Steven, P.O. Box 373, or to be left at the Rotary Club's office, 193 Manchester street. Any donor of £1 or more will be advised of special families which his or her donation has made provision for. Mr Thomas Chapman has liberally again headed the cheques list, and other welcome donations are from Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys and Co., Ltd.. Mr H. "C. D. van Asch, Mr and Mrs Dyas (who received a hamper last year, and are now employed), Mr R. M. Jamieson, Mr O. M. Miller, Mrs L. J. Taylor, Mr Burton, and Mr A. Louist>on. ' The collection staff will readily call fit any address to collect donations upon receipt of a telephone call (No. 34-6^6—Stewart, Beckett and Co., Hereford street). This intimation also applies to those who cannot get into town on Friday, when the street collection takes plaoe.