MORE THAN A THIRD OF A MILLION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 3

MORE THAN A THIRD OF A MILLION

Sick And Wounded Fund TOTAL EXPECTED TO GO TO £400,000 More than a third of a million pounds—£334,ooo—lias been subscribed to the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund. It is now in its closing stages, and the honorary Dominion organizer, Mr. J. Abel, said last night that it is likely to finish at nearly £-100,000. In the Wellington district the campaign is closed except for certuin ait unions and other efforts which had already been planned. Apart from these no fresh efforts or functions in conjunction with this fund will take place. Figures for the provinces announced last night are:-—Wellington, £98,000, Auckland, £03,000; Canterbury, £W,OOO; Otago, £50.000; Gisborne, Hawkes Bav, £27,000; Taranaki, £16,000; Marlborough, £3200; West Coast, £1600; Nelson, £2000; total, with miscellaneous contributions, £33-1,000.

WELLINGTON’S PART Congratulations Extended To Organizers TRAVEL CLUB RECEPTION The splendid part which the Wellington district had played in. raising almost £IOO.WO for the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund out of a Dominion to a of £300.000 was referred to by speakers at a reception tendered by the M ellm=ton Travel Club yesterday afternoon to the members of the Wellington Provincial Centre of the Joint Conner of the Bed Cross Society and the Order of St. John and to Mr. J. Abel, honorary Dominion organizer for the appeal. The president, Mr. Hislop, mayor o Wellington, welcomed Mrs.. Frffser, wife of the Prime Minister, Sir James ' - liott, president of the organiziitio , and Lady Elliott, Mr. Charles Todd, leader of the business men s committee, Mr K H. Kimmo, deputy-chairman ot the Patriotic Kund Board and president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Everyone in Wellington must feel happy at the mirgnibceut r. suits, which showed that, given the cause and the opportunity of backing it up, Wellington always responded, be said. However, there remained much more to be done. Nation's Peril. Mr. Hislop referred to the shadow of invasion which for the first time in a thousand years menaced the Britisn Isles, and said that the sternest days of all lay still ahead. Everyone must respond to the full, bringing together wealth and men and women to stand with the people of Britain. Today was the testing time and the result would be that Britain still remained free and in the end would triumph. Following the leadership of Winston Churchill, the Empire would survive. Mr. Nimino said that the Nnzi threat to the Empire, instead of inspiring fear, had only filled the people with a greater determination to win the war. He congratulated the organizer of the appeal on the success of their efforts and in particular the business men’s committee, under Mr. Charles Todd, who had placed his offices at the disposal of the committee and had given to the fund a cheque for £lOO and on behalf of hi. firm a motor-car .which to date had brought, in approximately £3500. The work of ’Sir James Elliott, Mr. Abel and Mr. Meachen was also worthy ot the highest praise. On behalf of the provincial committee of the joint council, Sir James Elliott paid a tribute to the work of Mr. J. Aiinand-Smith, hon. treasurer of the Wellington provincial committee. Miss Lissingtou, of the Red Cross, and the GO committees from Taumarunui southward who had worked so successfully. The result was no mean achievement. That money, however, would be useless unless as soon as possible it could be translated info the medical supplies so urgently needed by’ the soldiers.. Todd referred to the assistance received by the business men’s committee from volunteers who had thoroughly canvassed the business communitv. Six thousand calls had been made "and there had not ’teen a single refusal. If more money were required the committee would be pleased to act again. Mr. Chapman, M.P., chairman of the Wellington Centre of the Red Cross, praised the work of the women members of the committees, who, he said, had worked as never before. The business men’s committee also had done marvellous work. Miss Amy Kane handed to Mr. Annand-iSmith a donation of £lO from the women members of the Travel Club. Third of a Million. Wellington had raised practically a third of a million pounds, said Mr. Abel reviewing 'the progress of the campaign. He'said Mr. Aunand-Smith was deserving of praise for the part he had played in the campaign before it was launched. Throughout New Zealand. nearly 500 committees were functioning. The people of New Zealand had not teen milked dry and if another call were made be was sure that the response would be equally satisfactory. Mr. Aunand-Smith gave instances of the enthusiasm of such centres as Taihape. whose allocation was originally £lOOO and who now bad £3OOO in sight. The Wairarapa had showed wonderful results to raise just on £13,000 and Wanganui £14,500, with £2OOO or £3OOO more hoped for. The gathering concluded with the singing of “God Defend New Zealand.

MOTOR-CAR ART UNION Progress Payment Of £4OOO After an intensive effort made by the Wellington Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen’s Association to assist the Sick and Wounded Fund by raffling a motor-car donated by Todd Motors, Limited, for the purpose, a progress payment of £lOOO from the art union is to be made to the Joint Committee of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society next Friday. This announcement was made in Wellington last night, when it was stated that in addition £l3OO, consisting of donations from members and well-wishers of the association, would also be handed over on Friday. For the past three weeks a committee set tip by tire association has been engaged in the task of conducting the art union. The number of tickets printed totalled 100,000, and the number of books, 10,000. The tickets were sold at 1/- each and the art union was well supported by the public. The street, day in Wellington last week brought in £llOO. Whefi the association organized a “llying-stjuad” and visited Masterton recently, £2OO was collected as a result of one day’s effort. A further example of the spirit behind this movement was the social evening held at. Ilarllngton House, Dixon Street, recently. Residents and friends gathered for an effort that netted £75. The art union will be drawn at the association's premises. Customhouse

Quay, on Monday, June 24, under police supervision. The time of the draw will be announced soon. The campaign by the association has involved a tremendous amount of organization, necessitating the counting and checking of thousands of butts and tickets. Last night, as on every oilier night recently, the committee was engaged on this task. Preparations were being made for the draw, and it was stated that a special ledger entry for each butt ensures, ’when checking, that, every ticket is accounted for. All members of the committee are devoting long hours to the work and are giving their services voluntarily. There are no overhead costs and expenses are being paid by members of the association. Every- shilling collected goes to the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund, and the art union was described last night as being a "100 per cent, effort.” The £4OOO to be paid over next Friday represents a progress payment, and it is not yet known wbat tlie total proceeds will be. TRAVELLERS’ FUND Following are additional contributions to tlie Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Association’s fund : —Roy Cable, £10; J. F. Hargrave Ltd., £lO 10/-; staff of Egley Electrical Company, £5; G. Bramall and Co., N.Z., Ltd., £25; E. T. Taylor and Co., Ltd.. £25- C N. Havward, £5; E.M.F. Electric Co. (N.Z.), Ltd., £10; AV. Booth and Co., Ltd., £25; W. McDonald and Co., £10: Harlington House and Friends, £75: Anonymous, £l/1/-; total to date, £1306/8/-.