FLAG DAY IN CITY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22895, 16 December 1939, Page 12

FLAG DAY IN CITY

MORE THAN £1530 IN HAND RECORD RESPONSE FROM PUBLIC Christchurch yesterday established what is regarded as a record for a flag day collection, more than £1530 being in hand for the Metropolitan Patriotic Authority’s appeal by 11.30 p.m. There are still some returns to be received. The aim of the Authority—£looo— reached about 7 o’clock in the evening, and the large crowd of shoppers in the city later contributed libera.lly to make a total of £1530 11s 5d by the time the count was finished about four hours later. This includes the following:— £ s. d. Collection boxes .. 1217 7 5 Mock Court .. .. 238 4 0 Flags for Cars .. 17 4 0 Between 700 and 800 collectors made a very thorough canvas of the city, stations being manned as early at 7.45 a.m. Organised in 12 Days As the whole appeal was organised in 12 days, the result is considered very satisfactory reflected credit on the generosity of citizens and on the excellence of the organisation. The money collected will provide extra comforts, entertainment, and social services for men of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Some will be devoted to looking after the welfare of men of the Special Force when they are overseas and on their return to New Zealand. . , ~ . Probably the best individual effort was that of a woman, who returned £2l before lunch. Many thousands of badges were available for the appeal, and sales represented a bigger percentage than at street days in the past. Indicative of the denominations in which contributors jnade their gifts is the following table, showing how the total at 10.30 p.m. was made up:— Cheques, £29 9s; notes, £52 10s; halfcrowns, £BS lOs; florins, £128; still—lings, £342 17s; sixpences, £336 0s 6d; threepences, £169 15s 9d; pennies, £43 13s 6d; halfpennies, £4 10s; total, £1192 5s 9d. Headquarters for the appeal was in the Durham Street Art Gallery, where a large staff was engaged counting the money. It is emphasised that this appeal is exclusive of the boroughs of Lyttel-i ton, Sumner, and New Brighton, where separate collections are being made. The total will be further augmented by promises of cheques, which have yet to be received, and “fines” still unpaid. ' There were a number of substantial “fines” inflicted by the mock court and smaller donations, which included a gift of £2O by Fleming and Company, Ltd., will be offieially acknowledged later. As a stimulus to collection ir\ the evening, the 3ZB concert party toured the busy section of the city in a truck, gathering crowds at its stopping places. Collection boxes were rattled and not without excellent results. Mayor’s Appreciation “I want to express my gratification at this magnificent response,” said the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) last night. Mr Macfarlane praised the generous giving of residents of city and suburbs and the hearty co-opera-tion of those who were tried by the mock court, which produced some very substantial “fines.” He said he wanted to thank sincerely all the collectors who had worked so hard and also the men who distributed the badges and those who counted the money.. Women of the Welcome Club had provided workers with refreshments, some of them having been at headquarters from 8 am- until 10.30 p.m. Except for a minor charge, the refreshments entailed no expense, having been given by city firms. To Mr P. R. Climie (secretary of the authority). Mr Macfarlane also expressed his thanks, paying a tribute to the organisation of the appeal. Mr J. L. Hay, chairman of the finance appeal committee, had also contributed greatly to the planning, of the effort, he said. THE MAYOR “IN COURT” MOCK PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY MR J. L. HAY “FINED” £IOO The Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.), Chief Magistrate of the city, was yesterday ,himself “brought to justice” when he was called upon to answer a charge of “having upset the vital statistics.” Mr Macfarlane was one of several hundred prominent residents summoned before, the mock court in Cathedral square-as part of the flag day appeal, and his “offence” cost him £2 2s. Charges alleging delinquency in many spheres were heard by the judge (Mr J. K. Moloney), and proceedings provided the public with excellent entertainment, as well as producing a considerable- sum of money for the Metropolitan Patriotic Authority’s appeal. A large crowd of people stood in steady rain to hear the charges. Most severely dealt with w by the court in spite of the “evidence” of a four-legged witness was Mr J. L. Hay, who was fined £1 and had his witness, a pig, confiscated. Mr Hay was charged with “having converted Hay’s roof into a pigsty,” and was convicted. The imposition of the penalty brought further argument, but the animal was finally redeemed on payment of £IOO. Anothgr heavy fine was that imposed on Mr H. C. Urlwirf on a charge “that he was too Speedee in Manchester street.” On the understanding that the charge was altered to read “too Speedee all over New Zealand,” Mr Urlwin was released from custody for a fine of £SO. Charged with “having paved the road to. hell with good intentions,” Mr A. D. Paterson pleaded that it was his aim to make a smooth path for the legal profession. This was not held as sufficient excuse, and he was fined £25. “Having furtively dressed a silver fox in Colombo street” was the “crime” alleged against Mr W. A. Pattison. He was also given a £25 fine.