WIDE RANGE OF GIFTS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20997, 27 October 1933, Page 18

WIDE RANGE OF GIFTS

SUCCESS OF COMMUNITY SINGING SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY When Mr Alan Brown, very ably aided and abetted by Dr. F. C. A'Court as pianist, took over community singing in Christchurch, his object was not so much to raise record funds for the relief of distress as to make the community sing, and thereby play a small part in a general raising of a spirit of optimism in the city. Only during the last few months did the leaders cherish any idea of reaching a collection of £IOOO, and now, without the slightest nint of an "appeal" to the generosity of radio listeners, those taking part in the singing and others, it is found that the £IOOO mark will be easily passed when the final "sing" is over on Monday night. For the conclusion of this remarkably successful enterprise every seat in the Civic Theatre has been booked, and about 200 persons will be accommodated on the stage. No complimentary seats have been given and everyone who attends, from the Mayor of the city downwards, has paid his or her admission fee. Musical Enthusiasm. Extraordinary enthusiasm has been a feature of the singing, and the gifts sent in for sale have ranged almost from a needle to an anchor, but in no case has there been anything unsaleable or otherwise unsuitable. Many Regular Contributors. White rats, pigeons, bedspreads, sponge cakes, socks, underclothing, parcels of fish, and dogs, are among the gifts sent in each week, and there are cake shops and other sellers of food which hav-j made their contributions regularly for many weeks. Women whose names figure prominently in the cookery sections of show prise lists from year to year are among the contributors, and the spirit of generosity has spread to such an extent that those who have very little money to spare set to work in their kitchens and send along parcels of scones, pikelets, and delicacies of all descriptions. An elderly woman, frail through almost constant ill-health, i makes small iced cakes and meat | pies, and her contribution arrives weekly, straight from the oven. A Husre Mail. Hundreds of letters are received every sjnging day, from Wairarapa to Cromwell, and on occasions an even wider range is represented. The humble three-penny piece—always welcome —is found in the corners of some of the envelopes, while others contain cheques. Usually the letters are merely addressed "Alan Brown, Christchurch," but so well has the name become known that the letters never fail to find their destination and their monetary contents go to the coffers of the fund. Some are amusing, some pathetic, and others contain suggestions for programmes and jokes that might be suitable for the leader to introduce. Many small children are among the subscribers. One child in Heretaunga makes a weekly contribution, from Is to Is 6d, gathered from penny parties, and there ere many others who, by their own efforts, induce their friends to support Christchurch community singing to the utmost of their ability. All parts of the Canterbury province naturally bulk largely in the gifts, and special generosity has been shown by the districts between Kaikoura and Timaru. Laudable Object Fulfilled. And all this, it must be remembered, has arisen simply from a desire to make men, women, and children sing and to forget, for a time, the troubles of the day. Yesterday, not including the time necessarily taken up by Mr Brown in selling, telling humorous yarns, and acknowledging gifts, 32 songs were sung in one hour and 40 minutes, which proves beyond all doubt that the leaders' object has been very much more than well fulfilled. "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows" was sung in honour of the leaders at the conclusion of the session. The receipts from yesterday's session amounted to £56 5s Id, the colJection at the door contributing £2O 4s 9d to the total. The remainder was made up of the proceeds of the sale * contributions from listeners to the wireless transmission of the Singing, and from competitions.