FUNDS FOR THE RED CROSS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21400, 16 February 1935, Page 14

FUNDS FOR THE RED CROSS

I ^ — SUCCESSFUL STREET COLLECTION TOTAL EXPECTED TO REACH £350 It is expected that when all returns are in the result of the annual street appeal of the Red Cross Society will be an addition of approximately £350 to the funds. The city street collection and other efforts yesterday yielded the very satisfactory sum of £339 8s 2d. This figure is far in excess of that for the same effort last year, when the collection was combined with that for other organisations and the share of the Red Cross was £ 120 Lady Wigram, chairwoman of the women's executive of the society in Christchurch, was in charge of the arrangements yesterday, and after the collection had been completed in the evening she told a reporter from "The Press" that she was very gratified with the splendid response of the public to the appeal. It had been an exceptionally fine total and the executive was more than pleased with the result. Lady Wigram expressed the thanks of the executive to all helpers, particularly the big army of collectors. The total of £339 8s 2d includes receipts from the street boxes, donations, and receipts from the stalls. The return from the street collectors was approximately £292, this sum including £lB 16s Id in pennies. Other small items, including money secured by the sale of a pup given to the society for the appeal, are expected to bring the gross receipts to £350. This money will be used to provide warm clothes and other winter comforts for returned soldiers and their families who are in need. 200 Collectors More than 200 collectors assisted the society in its appeal to the public. There were also two stalls in Victoria square. The collectors were on the streets at 7.45 a.m., and working in relays, they "manned" all the important corners until 7 p.m. Headquarters were at the rooms of the society in Worcester street. Lady Wigram was assisted by the following:—Mrs H. Wyatt, the organiser, who was assisted by Mesdames Cyril Stringer and A. McPherson and Mr P. M. Grant, who handled the boxes; Mrs Herbert Smith, treasurer, and Mesdames E. Peate, 11. L. Bowker, E. S. Vernon, and John Stevenson, handling the boxes as they came in. Another important service was in the hands of the Mayoress (Mrs D. G. Sullivan) and Mrs J. S. Neville, who provided the helpers with tea at the City Council rooms. Workers at the stalls included Mesdames A. Forbes, A. J. Benzie, J. G. L. Vernon, P. R. Climie, J. E. K. Brown, J. W. K. Lawrence and Miss Laura Bow en.

Goods were sent to the stalls not only by city supporters of the society, but by people in the country, who forwarded eggs and butter, vegetables and other goods. Subcentres all over Canterbury contributed. The Opawa, Riccarton. Sydenham, Merivale and New Brighton sub-centres and the junioi branch of the Navy League assisted in providing collectors.