RED CROSS SHOP

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 12

RED CROSS SHOP

TO THE EDITOR OR THB PRESS. Sir,—l' read in “The Press” to-day that the Red Cross Society is still running its shop, this time under the control of country sub-centres I understood - that the big appeal held by“the joint council of the Order of St,.. John, And the Red Cross Society definitely closed on June 30. and that the money received was far in excess of what was anticipated. These 'shops in city areas affect the legitimate shopkeeper and are also most unfair to other charitable organisations who have i stalls from time to time. The Red Cross Society, obtains its appeal day anhually, and should not encroach on pther bodies. It is time it retired from Vthfe 'field and gave the patriotic societies a chance.—Yours, etc., FAIR PLAY; July 25, 4940. [This letter was referred to Mr J. Leslie Will, president of the Canterbury: branch of the Red Cross Society, who said: “The Red Cross Shop has been run at all times by sub-centres of the society from both town and country. It is not an effort of the joint council of Red Cross and St; John as part of the national appea l . It represents -an endeavour by the, society to provide a steady income for war purposes for the duration. It was never meant to get so much publicity nor was it. meant v to . interfere with other bodies: collecting for charity. TheV Red Cfoss executive is considering the matter to see how the organisation can be . used to help in other charitable- directions, and 4he Plunket SocietyMS to, be given the use of the' shop for 'its - own purposes when its appeal is made. The community camrest assured that the executive is well' aware of what is going on. The effect of the shop on the trade of one nearby shopkeeper was inquired into, and that man said that he was only too pleased to see the shop there, and that it did not affect his trade.”]