GENEROUS CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21729, 11 March 1936, Page 17

GENEROUS CHRISTCHURCH

tO TB» *DITO» Of THI PBBBB. Sir—l was interested in reading a letter which in "The Press" of March 7 entitled, "Generous Chnstchurch." Truly an appreciation where it is due! , . , A few months ago I was surprised to read in your paper that a deputation, deprecating the system of helping on the social work of the city through the medium of street day collections, had been received by the civic authorities—not that there is anything wrong with this! But surely this advocacy against street days was rather a "whine" and not a true fact. Sixpence here, a shilling there, or 2s 6d elsewhere given to a deserving cause could not deprive the local tradesmen from receiving the usual attention of their customers. I too being somewhat of a wanderer about the world, have had occasion to notice the generws giving-with-a-smile in this city, for not long ago St John Ambulance Day found me out, and I was asked to collect, and did. Street day collections to me are a source of great interest. I admire the way the public are protected in that Tpomit has to be granted by the city authorities before a collection of this kind can be made, and an organisation of responsible citizens set up to control the collection. In principle it is a form of giving which is within the reach of all citizens and which appeals to all that is best in each one of us n that the true Christ-like chance of giving is determined by our own conscience as to whether the gift has beenmuch or little (in relation to ourSe Here' is an easy way for the wouldbe shirker in the constructive social life of the city to ease his conscience bv making an offering. There is ■ the collector, too, who has to be carefully chosen and invited to take a share in sacrificing a few hours on the day at

an appointed spot, and in tactfully approaching the passers-by. A street day cdllection is surely a day when the whole city has a wonderful opportunity of sharing in the work of the social life of the city.-Yours k et &EsTED March 10, 1936.