SURPRISES FOR ALL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 8

SURPRISES FOR ALL

THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' RAID

0, 000 ENVELOPES SOLD IN SIX , HOURS

When the Commercial Travellers of Wellington set their bauds to any patriotic task, it is always well done. After yesterday's splendid experience) one might eay that it wns almost too well done, for they had arranged a two days' suyprise packet campaign, in u-hich ihey set out to sell IiO.OUU surprise envelopes at Is. caoh—alt prizes, no hlanks. Ho well <U<t they do their work, so tempting did they make thoir little attraction, that by •'! o'clock in the afternoon tho whole of tho envelopes had been sold, and nothing remained for the travellers to do but to disburse, the prizes. Unlike some enterprises of the kind, tho public were given good value for their money, for the majority of the. prizes were well worth (he, shilling, and if there were those, which might have been worth a little less it was n.l! in Hie game, ami no one was disappointed. On (lie other hand there were a great many valuable and extremely useful prizes, which van into pounds in value. There was the faction of land at Xhandallah. valued at .ei-'.i (said to have been won by T. M'Gee, a carter in tho umplov of Jlunt, Cottrcll, and Co.). The travellers, who had organised the campaign splendidly, had secured the pick of tho city's feminine youth and beauty, and in perfect spring weather they took up their allotted stands in the city, assailing one and all in the name o"f the blind soldiers and sailors with extraordinary success. Truth to toll, the ladies had the time of their lives, lor the glorious exhilarating spring sunshine appeared to loosen tho public s purse-strings automatically, making the disposal of the envelopes a comparatively simplo matter-so simple, indeed, that by 3 p.m. practically the whole of them were disposed, of. At an early hour many workers made a raid on the fruit markets, where the "sports"—who included many Chineseput their shillings in raffles'for a bunch of twenty tickets. Then- a lady seller mounted on a pile of fruit boxes made an appeal with complete success. Un each corner the fair raiders made the passage, of the streets a hazardous business to all save thaw who purchased exemption badges. But it really appeared as though no one wished to be exempted from the merry business, for the envelopes vanished like magic, and a steady stream of people set in. from the city to i"Jl" shed on Jervois Quay, which was arranged conveniently like a huge universal store. There the atmosphere of pleasurable excitement was absolutely infectious. There.was comedy plenty everywhere. A shriek went up when a demiife young typist iound that sn* had drawn a basinette and someone suggested that the travellers had show n sad reniissness in not- including a lew husbands among the prizes. "Now what do you think of that.' . That's the- fourth pot-cleaner 1 ve drawn this morning!" said a summer gin. . "Well, it's no worse than me, said her chum, "I've drawn five tooth-brushes, enough to keep me going for a life-time! "What am i to do witn this, sam a burlv soldier as he exhibited a flimsy -arment to the gaze of all. ' Can you see me getting into that in camps; "I'll give you a packet of greens for it," said one business-like young dame, and the bargain was at once """Oh isn't it all right!" said the lady who won a sewing machine, gurgling with delight. "Just the very thing i"'•One wlute towel," sang out a woman holding out her ticket to a perspiring "C.T." behind ths counter. "No whiles Vsft. Mudam-here's a brown, all tho went on all through the day-the staff of travellers installed behind the counters, slaving, with their coals off, to meet the demands mjeiiijoi. them bv their excited clients But it was nil wonderfully arranged, i-ach depart-juent-grocery, drapery, boob and leather goods, fancy goods, books and stationery and ironmongery-being clearly labelled. An efficient staff of Harbour Board officials was told off to help the travellers and these took charge of the doors anil directed the people to tl«; various departments. It was noticeable that veij. lew people came in with one ticket onlj. Jlan? Iwl thren or four and there were those wlio cashed .10 tickets or moie dU Dunng the "afternoon Miss Ada Eeeve. accompanied by Mr. T. Holt, paid a vis. to "M" shed, and was joyously greeted by the travellers, who recognise in her a kindred spirit who can "deliver the goods." She produced a full hand of vouchers, and was allowed to select what was most appropriate for the Bicfc soldiers she was übmit to visit at the Vic (oria Hospital. So she secured quite a load of cigaretlcs. tobacco, jam, preserved fruit, etc., and after expressing her admiration for the manner in whichi the campaign wns being worked, she ldt on her errand of mercy. . , Over in tho Commercial travellers Club a staff of cashiers wore kept busy throughout the long happy day counting tho money that wme in, in a sileady stream, from about II a.m. Here, as in the streets; the ladies worked with a vigbt good will, and deserre 311 st .ae much credit as those who were facing "'mm Vow who have tickets and who we're not able lo redeem the goods IJiey represent will be able to do so In-day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. The total receipts for yesterday s campaign will represent something over X3OOO.