CANTERBURY V. OTAGO

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17862, 7 August 1918, Page 6

CANTERBURY V. OTAGO

RED CROSS COPPER TRAIL

“OUR DAY,” : WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1918;

GENERAL RED CROSS WORKTo maintain unimpaired the Work o$ Mercy for the Sick and the . ' . > Wounded. |

Will start to-morrow and tho first' progress report will appear in Saburday’s papers. His Most Gracious Majesty the King has appealed for a liberal response in tho following terms:— “ I am especially proud of tho noble generosity displayed by Britons overseas.”

‘‘Never was need for continuance of . the ministrations of tho Red Cross more urgent.- I earnestly trust that tho Joint Committee with the powerful help of ‘The Times’ and the Press at Homo and overseas will be enabled f until victory is won and tho peace of tho world assured, to maintain with- \ out abatement its sacred mission to tho wounded, the sick, and the prisoners whose welfare has our unfailing solicitude and our heartfelt sympathy!” But.for the ‘‘Our Day” anniversary contributions it would be impossible for the British Red Cross organisation to carry on its work and meet the needs to which it ministers.

“The organisation is now confront-ed—-as indeed the whole Empire is confronted—with a task still greater than any it has' hitherto faced.”

In 1915 its expenditure was £f1,182,056; in 1916, £1,538,732; in 1917, £3,672,356. During the year ending October last the expenditure exceeded the income by over £200.000, whilst for the same period the income showed an expansion of 13 per cent, the expenditure increased 138 per cent —over ten times as fast.

This year by means of the Copper Trail, this Centre is aiming at raising £40,000 to meet its share of the Dominion’s, “ Our Day’’ contribution and to fulfil its obligations to the New Zealand London Red Cross Committee and requirements in the Dominion. There are now 3672 New Zealand soldiers at the Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch, England, 4043 at other lmsnitals in the United Kingdom, 2217 sick and wounded returned, soldiers in the Dominion hospitals. ’ Your liberal response in the past to similar calls leads tho executive to'believe that this appeal, which is the most urgent yet mndo. will be adequately supported by you. For the Canterburv-Nelson-Marl-borough-Westland Centre, „J- A. FLESHER, 1 Chairman of Executive. Subscriptions may be sent to the Hon. Organiser, Mr G. L. Donaldson, Box 772, Christchurch, or Messrs Gould, Beaumont and Co., Hon. Treasurers. 1287