PATRIOTIC SEAL CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 85, 4 January 1940, Page 6

PATRIOTIC SEAL CAMPAIGN

Money Pouring In When lite office of the National Patriotic Fund Board in Wellington opened yesterday after the holidays it received four large bags of mail from the Bost Office containing, on a rough estimate, approximately 16,000 replies from subscribers in all parts of the Dominion to the seal campaign inaugurated by the board to raise money to provide comforts for the armed forces and mercantile marine. These letters, which were held the holidays by the postal authorities under instructions from the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, have been added to lhe large volume of replies received in the week before tiie office closed for tiie holidays. It is difficult to make any accurate estimate of numbers from tightly-packed bundles, but there are 50,000 letters at least waiting to be opene’d. The task of opening, sorting and checking the remittances, as well as placing on one side orders for more seals, was too big to complete before Christmas and, accordingly, it was defered till the New Year. A start is to be jnade with the work at the beginning of next week. Though time was short between the inauguration of the campaign ami the intervention of the holiday period, tiie response by lite public was good. Appreciation of this already has been expressed, and reference also has been made by officers of the National Patriotic Fund organization to another gratifying feature—the fact that many people sent, more than the value of the seals and others ordered further supplies. Seals were not sent to all householders and business firms. In view of the shortness of time and other considerations, a selection was made. However, of tltose to whom seals were sent, there is still a large number who have not forwarded their contributions to date. It is realized that probably there were many other matters claiming their attention before the holidays; but now these are over it is hoped they will not feel it; is too late to send in their contributions. They are asked to do so without delay and so help tiie board to do as much as possible on their behalf for the men who have volunteered for service.