A HAPPY RESULT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2941, 29 November 1916, Page 8

A HAPPY RESULT

CITIZENS' XMAS GIFT FUND

£2859 RAISED

Mr. C. G. Wilson occupied the chair at tho winding-up meeting of tho Citizens' Christmas Gift Fund for Wellington's soldiers at tho front. The campaign proved an entire success, and one that reflects the greatest credit on all concerned. Tho balauce-sheet is as follows: — Receipts.—Direct appeal, £1384 12s. 6d.; flowers and badges, £70 145.; flags, £104 12s. Td.; Marble Bar, £76 13s. 7d.; Association football match, £13 19s. fid.; Savage Club "Ladies' Night," £70; poultry and bottles, £113 lis. 10d.; Basin Reserve Fete, £114 15s. 3d.; the Norwoods' entertainment, £116 16s. 6d.; Christmas Gift Day (street collection), £369 13s. Id.; Wellington bowlers, £143; proportion due from last year's Christmas One Shilling Gift Fund, £392 os. (3d. Total, £2970 9s. 4d. Payments.—Expenses direct appeal, £32 155.; expenses flags, £31 Bs. Id.; expenses ponltiy and bottles, £11 195.; expenses Basin lleserve, £12 17s. 6d.; expenses street collection, £3 os. 6d.; printing and stationery, £5 ss. 6d.; advertising, £2 175.; sundry expenses, £4 2s. 2d.; petties, £1 75.; subscription refunded, £5; balance Commercial Bank of Australia, £2859 17s. 7d. Total, £2970 9s. 4d. The secretary said that a feature of the committee's working was the way in which expenses had been kept down. The expenditure roughly represented'3J jier cent, of the amount collected, antT' without the amount paid for flags, the expenses only amounted to 2'i per cent. He said there was little more for him to say further than the ' amount realised was greater than any of them anticipated. The committee had done good work, and no member had set out to do anything but what he had not done faithfully and well. (Applause.) 1 After further complimentary references to those who had helped, the- report and balance-sheet wero adopted. Mr. Marryatt said there were a few outstanding accounts on behalf of the sports meeting on the Basin Eeserve. The net amount due on these was £21 155., which were passed for payment. . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the secretary (Mr. It. W. Shallcrass). On the motion of Mr. L. F. Watkins ladies. , Mr. Watkins also paid a tria vote of thanks was accorded to the bute to the organising capability of their chairman (Mr. Wilson), and, on his motion, he was given a very hearty vote, of thanks. On the motion of Mr. A. Marryatt, Mr. G. S.. Hill, the secretary of the sports committee, was also given- a hearty vote of thanks for the excellent services he had rendered. ■ On the motion of the chairman it was decided to hand over the amount raised to Mrs. Luke. If was proposed, as an amendment, that trustees bo appointed. This was suggested as it was understood that the whole of this amount would not be needed. It was proposed by Sir. M. Carr that Messrs. Wilson, Marryatt, and Mrs. Luke be the trustees. The motion was carried unanimously. At the conclusion of the meeting Mrs. Luke was invited in, and received a cordial welcome. The chairman explained the decisions of the committee. Mr. Marryatt, ho said, had informed the' meeting previous to her entrance that had the name of the Mayoress not been at.the head of the I movement, thay would not have collected a third of what they had. They all knew that 'she was doing great - ' work on behalf of the boys who were serving their country, and Mr. Marryatt and himself would do all they possibly could to assist her in that work in any way they could, and if the occasion arose to make a call she could always appeal to the sports bodies of Wellington. Mrs. Luke's Stewardship. Mrs. Luke said she was very thankful for the way tho sports bodies had lent their aid in the way they had. It was not what she had done. She was only doing he'r duty in .the same way as anyone else in her position would do. She was naturally pleased at the fine result achieved. Regarding the parcels, she had experienced an anxious time, as with some people the idea was not popular. It might be that some were weary of well-doing, but she was of opinion that they should express their thoughts in a tangible way to/the boys who were doing so much for them all. Tho Hon. Jas. Allen had said that they should, as far as was possible, • make tho gifts local products. True, they could not make towels, but they must have towels. New Zealand woollen goods were unsurpassed in the world, the fruit, meats, sweets, and jams wore all New Zealand manufactures, and she did not think the boys-

would bo disappointed with thorn. As" they could only commuuicato about onco in thrco months with Samoa, they had sent parcels to the value of 10s. to each wan there, and in them were light singlets, underpants, socks, gramophono records (Scotch ones wero favoured). To tho wireless men they •had sent real good parcels for seventysix men. These had cost £10 iu postage, owing to some difli-. eulty with the steamship companies concerned. Handsome parcels had been forwarded to the men in Egypt, and parcels had been placed on the transports which' would be at sea at Christmas —the parcels to be opened pn. : Christmas morning. Mrs. Luke displayed a sample par- '. eel of those sent to the front, and said that it would bo seen what time, love, and energy had been employed in packing them. It could not have been done had the sports bodies not • done what they did. She was glad of that because in some parts of the country that slie had visited she had not found things too bright, so she Lad' plied tho sports bodies, telling themwhat was being done by them (the sports people) in Wellington. There was a good response, and everytliing marked for the Citizens' Gift Fund had heen sent on to Mr. Shallcrass. As the result the men would not only have peace and goodwill at Christmas, but for as long as the money lasted. (Applause.) ■ "Whether my committee agrees with me or not," said Mrs. Luke, the parcels will go on. If the committee disagree with me I am out to found a. Christmas Gift Fund to keep the parcels going. (Applause.) ' Mrs. Luke said she was pleased that the two gentlemen named had been appointed to help her. Mr. Wilson was a pretty good prophet. Ho had said that they wero out to raise £3000 • and had nearly got it. (Applause.)