POSTMEN’S DRIVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 249, 18 September 1933, Page 2

POSTMEN’S DRIVE

Git EAT SUCCESS ACHIEVED. Outstanding success Avas achieved by the postmen of Palmerston North in their drive for clothes on Saturday afternoon, and so generous avus tho response that the facilities at the first receiving depot established were inadequate to cope with the inrush of clothing, groceries and other goods brought in by heavily-laden cars. It Avas only a matter of a short time in the afternoon before tho depot in Princess Street Avas unable to cope Avitli the big collection of goods, and by 2.30 p.m. a change had to be made to the A. and P. Buildings in Cuba Street, owing to tlie pressing need for accommodation. Cars made a continuous procession all the afternoon to this depot, and their loads ivere discharged as fast as they possibly could be handled. By tlie end of the day five lorry-loads of foodstuffs had been sent to the relief depot, and a great stack of clothes and other goods had accumulated. The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) Avas among the busy workers with the postal employees, and it Avas after 7 p.m. Avhen the day’s effort ivas concluded. The empty shelves of the Central Relief Depot have again been filled with stocks of groceries ill consequence of the good day’s Avork. The collection includes 501bs. of sugar, 90lbs. of flour, 211bs. of sago, 331bs. of bacon, 401bs. of rice, 20lbs. of oatmeal, Pi dozen eggs, 121bs. of tda, 17Ibs. of golden syrup, lli lbs. of honey, I ton of jam, 1411>s. of butter, 401bs. of apples, 1801bs of carrots, 2501b5. of parsnips, IScivt. of potatoes, 201bs. of beetroot, 301bs. of sAvedes, 901bs. of onions, COlbs. of eschallots, 141bs. of bread, 3001bs. of pumpkins, lOOlbs of marrow, also fisli, sphaglietti and a great quantity of miscellaneous groceries, besides books, pictures and fuel. Cash donations amounting to nearly £2O have been received, and contributions are still coming in, particularly from tlie rural districts.

THE MAYOR’S THANKS

The Mayor (Mr Mansford) Avrites to the “Standard” as chairman of the Central Relief Committee expressing sincere thanks to the postmen and other members of the Post Office staff for organising last Saturday’s successful drive. He also expresses the thanks of the committee to the citizens for tlie magnificent response made to the appeal. The Mayor continues; —“When AA-e consider tlie calls made on our citizens for clothes and foodstuffs during the past few years, firstly, for tlie earthquake refugees, and more recently for the unemployed, tire result of Saturday’s dri\ r e, ivliicli is tlie most successful yet held, must be considered a distinct tribute to our postmen, and is but an indication of tlie high esteem in which they are held by tlie citizens, (living to the late hour at-which tlie last carload arrived on Saturday night the full result of tlie drive cannot yet be ascertained, blit ivlien I state that eve received over five lorry loads of foodstuffs alone, to say nothing of tlie thousands of parcels of • clothing and boots, numerous articles of furniture live and dead stock, and just oil £l9’in cash donations this ivill give some idea of tlie unqualified success oi the drii r e. I ivould also like to tlrank the motor drivers and lorry drivers as Avell as the Boy Scouts for their assistance and co-operation on Saturday last, it was only by their combined efforts that such a large quantity of goods and parcels AA-ere transported in so short a space of time. 1 would further like to thank the ManaAvatu A and P. Association for placing a t our disoosal at short notice the amusement hall at the Shoivgrounds. It Avas indicated Avken the first Icav cars returned Avitli their loads that the capacity of the drill hall AA-ould be insufficient to meet tlie requirements of the . drive, and hurried arrangements had to be made for a move to a more spacious hall. In conclusion I Avould like to thank all those who assisted in making last Satui day s drive the most successful yet held.”