POSTMEN’S DRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 16 September 1933, Page 2

POSTMEN’S DRIVE

COLLECTION OF CLOTHES. CITY THOROUGHLY CAN AMASSED. Emulating the example of the AA relliugton and Christchurch employees, the postmen of Palmerston North this afternoon launched their big drive for clothes for the city relief depot, and made a thorough canvass of over 5100 householders. Car loads of goods of all descriptions were pouring in this afternoon, and the brief but vigorous campaign was meeting with great success-. Fourteen postmen started out at 1 p.m. to cover their rounds, but this time they .were collecting, instead of delivering, and they enjoyed their new role. They were assisted by forty Boy Scouts, 25 cars, many of which were provided by members of the Rotary Club, and two lorries. These vehicles were kept busy making trips to and from the receiving depot, which had been established at the headquarters building of the Manawatu Mounted Rifles in Princess Street. The work, well organised and admirably carried out, proceeded with the smoothness and efficiency which is characteristic of postal routine. Fifteen minutes after the drivo commenced the first car was back to discharge its load, and in half an hour a big pile of miscellaneous clothing had grown up, while hundreds of pairs of boots occupied another position. AVithin an hour a lorry load of all kinds of food and provisions had been despatched to the city relief depot. The consignment comprised a great assortment of pickles, jams and preserves, groceries, and fresh vegetables. It was anticipated that when the day’s drive was ended there would be a big accumulation of these foodstuffs. Bottles, books, babies’ clothes, culinary utensils, crockery, baskets, bedding, etc., were coming in rapidly, and there was soon a great quantity of clothes which will take days of sorting. Prior to the commencement of the drive, cash donations, a wire mattree and bedstead and two settings of eggs had, been received, and this morning quantities of produce arrived from farmers who are visited on the rural mail rounds.