MRS HARRISON THANKS DONORS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 18

MRS HARRISON THANKS DONORS

The belief that Mr John Harrison would have defended stoutly the right of the four young men who perished on Mount Rolleston last month to attempt their climb under the conditions pertaining at the time was expressed by his widow in a statement yesterday.

She said she believed that they were sufficiently experienced and properly equipped. “Now that the John Harrison Fund has been completed, I want to try to express my feelings of gratitude and wonder at the generosity of all who have contributed to it,” Mrs Harrison said. "The gifts have come from all over New Zealand and have included very large sums and very small ones, equally generous. The total has reached a sum far beyond the expectations of the kind friends who launched the appeal. “Not only did people give in response to this appeal; many sent money and gifts to me personally, some of them before any appeal had been made, and in many cases anonymously. These I cannot thank except in this way. “It Is only possible for me to accept this kind of help on behalf of Wendy and Susan because of the motives which prompted the givers. I believe that all of them, from the children who sent their pocket money to the individuals and organisations who gave large sums, the strangers and the friends alike, did so because they felt that "he children should not suffer for their father’s

sense of dedication and duty. “I believe that they would like to help in the upbringing of Wendy and Susan in the way in which John would have done it. Perhaps they feel that he epitomised in his life and death the best that is in mankind, and particularly those qualities which New Zealand people most respect “If this is true he did not live or die in vain. I am very proud to have been his wife and when they are old enough Wendy and Susan will be proud to be his children. “To the many hundreds of people who have written to me with sympathy and understanding I send my heartfelt thanks. Their admiration for John and their encouragement to me will never be forgotten. I shall try to bring up Wendy and Susan to be as generous, kind, and strong as their father, and remember always the people who helped me to do it. “Lastly, I believe, like all the men who took part in the search, that the four young men they tried to rescue were sufficiently experienced and were properly equipped. They attempted their climb under conditions which were justified at the time and John Harrison would have stoutly defended their right to do it. To their relatives and friends I send my deep sympathy,” Mrs Harrison said. Mr W. B. Beaven, on behalf of the trustees, made the following statement: “The trustees of the John Harrison appeal wish to thank most sincerely all those people and organisations who have made this appeal such a tremendous success. “Those of us who knew John Harrison believe that this trust, and the help it will be for his wife and children, will be a living tribute to his outstanding character and the great ideals he lived up to,” Further Gifts

Donations made in Christchurch to the national fund which closed on Saturday now total £15,901. Another £l5ll han been collected in separate appeals in Timaru (£742), Ashburton (£284), Wellington (£385), Greymouth (£7O), and Leeston (£3O), giving a total of £17,412. It is expected to be some days before an official final figure can be given. Donations received by "The Press” yesterday included £lO from the Waipara Junior Red Cross, making £6076 received since the appeal opened. Other late donations were received by one of the trustees yesterday, including £lO from Mr H. E. Riddiford.