Canvass In City

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29851, 18 June 1962, Page 12

Canvass In City

A provisional total of £13,500 was raised in little more than three hours door-to-door canvassing for the Freedom from Hunger Campaign in Christchurch cn Saturday. This figure, said the Christchurch secretary for C.0.R.5.0. (Mr G. H. Coley) yesterday was £3595 more than the final total raised in the 1961 campaign.

Progress reports from 16 country districts in Canterbury gave a total of £7710, £3022 more than in 1961. Mr Coley said again this was only a provisional figure, and returns from a further 128 country districts still had to come in.

The general response by the public had been far in excess of what had been anticipated. said Mr Coley. He

likened the success of the present campaign to another a United Nation's appeal for children in 1948 when £348,000 was raised in New Zealand. For that immediate post-war period the “emo-tional timing” had been good. “It would appear that this is so again,” he said. The final totals for the city and the province would not be known for at least another two weeks, said Mr Coley. “The Westport appeal will not be held until June 30 and many country districts take a little longer getting their campaigns completed.” he said. Practically all districts showed distinct increases in

donations, said Mr Coley. This seemed to indicate larger individual giving. More than 200 adults, apart from those associated with various church groups, assisted, and all told about 2500 collectors took part on Saturday. To count the money, staff of the main branch of the Bank of New Zealand worked for a few hours on Saturday afternoon. Mr Coley said C.0.R.5.0. was sorry if some householders were missed on Saturday. This could have been for a variety of reasons—the knock at the door not being heard, or householders being out. If those who had been missed would send their contributions to C.0.R.5.0., Box 1905. Christchurch, or to any of the receiving points named on the householders’ circular. the organisation would be very grateful, be said.

The participation by children in this and other appeals was an interesting social development. said Mr Coley. “It generally means some youngsters getting a few friends around to help." Children in addition to collecting had also engaged in several fund-rais-ing activities such as the seven children who set up a stall in Straven road. Provisional totals from some Canterbury area centres with last year’s figures in parenthesis are: Akaroa, £9O (£23); Ashburton, £1506 (£703); Blenheim, £1683 (£1147); Cheviot, £ll5 (£34); Darfield-Kirwee, £134 (£110); Greymouth, £638 (£566); Hokitika, £456 (£278); Kaiapoi, £395 (£320); Kaikoura, £450 (£132;) Lyttelton, £220 (£79); Leeston, £245 (£115); Picton, £259 (£177); Rakaia. £520 (£215); Rangiora, £525 (£427); Reefton, £256 (£104); Ross. £55 (£44).