PROPOSED RED CROSS FAIR

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13655, 24 August 1916, Page 4

PROPOSED RED CROSS FAIR

SCHEME ABANDONED. | i PUBLIC'APPEAL- FOR SDBSUfiIP- i TIONS. « ! 'flu 1 imlift'crcut . reception accorded the proposal to hold a fair for the pin- ( pose of 'raising' funds for the British j lied l!ioss was responsible' for the call- ( ing of a further public meeting which j was held last night for the purpose of ( considering a notice of motion to re- ~ sciml the resolution to hold the fair, in ( favour of making a direct, personal np- j peal for funds, ( The meeting, which it had been in- - tended to hold in the Borough Council ( Chamber took place in the dress circle of the Opera House, and there was a j representative attendance of about | eighty ladies and gentlemen. Apologies were received from Mr and Mrs Sump- - ter, Air ami Mi's Stubbs, and Mr i). Sinclair. ' I His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. 11. , Frith) presided ami called upon Mr W. , Kinder to move the motion of which lie J had given notice. ' I Air Kinder then moved "that the mo- , tlon to hold a fair be rescinded, and. , that in lieu' thereof it be decided to , make a direct appeal for subscriptions.'' The motion was seconded by Air ,1. Ironside, who considered the direct appeal, the best method of obtaining funds. Ho considered that conditions were not favourable, to the holding of a fair, and that the other method' would be the more economic. / * Airs-J. Al. .Forrester said it was.unfortunate that what appeared to be a misunderstanding had arisen with,regard.'to the original scheme, which perhaps had riot- been so fully explained as seemed necessary. There was a- great deal hi 'favour of the idea, because it was novel and'-aimed at securing the help of everyone.- There were many people, who. could not give money "but who would be prepared to give goods' or their own time to such a scheme, The appeal had been based on the suggestion' that' everyone should give the value of-an hour's work a week, either in time, money or material, for a term of six weeks, and she' thought that if people could not do that much it was a sorry day .for the 'Dominion and the Empire. Airs Forrester stated the conntry people had taken up the idea readily, and were already working for the proposed fair. A large quantity of goods and material would be given and the idea of the fair was to provide a market for such, and to avoid the repeated call upon tradespeople, who wero usually regarded as "fair game" when a canvass was to be made.. Mrs Forrester further stated that many people could assist in the matter of entertainments, and their services could not. be utilised if the personal appeal idea was carried. If there were'those who disagreed with the proposals of the original scheme they could easily retire from active cooperation in it, but it was thought uufair after twelve days had elapsed to have the whole matter're-considered. What was really desired was a market for the wares of those wiio could not give money, iu order to convert their gifts into cash, Miss McNaught.asked if it was not stated at the first meeting that the proposal affected the town only and that the country, districts were working independently. , His Worship, the Mayor, stated that at the first.interview lie,had had with Airs. Forrester and Mrs Lee iu connection with 'tho matter he distinctly. , understood that Was the case. Mrs Forrester- said that the chairman must have entirely misunderstood the matter as no such idea was suggested. The chairman further stated that iu ' reply to a direct question he had been [ given, to understand that the proposal only, related "to.the town.' In .reply to a question by Air D, 1 Thomson as to the amount expected to be raised, the chairman said'there was ' no definite amount allocated, but' that 1 in conversation with two- prominent [ men whom he considered were in a 1 position to speak with authority,' the 1 sum of £llOO had been mentioned as re- \ presenting a fair contribution from ' Oaniaru. ' . Air Thomsou said he was iuclined to 1 .think that the first .proposal had,.been 1 sprung upon the'public without suffi-. cient prepanition.i He suggested that the gentlemen should, undertake a can- ' vass'ol: the district and the ladies con- ; duct a fair or entertainment if they so desired. ' Mr Robert Milligan said lie would not 1 give merely a silent vote, as lie -considered the matter of vital importance to the community and too sacred to be viewed from any partisan standpoint. What 'was required was that unitedly the whole district should endeavour to 1 raise as large a sum as possible for so worthy a cause. The question to be considered was'the most,effective means of raising the'money. He. suggested that, the want of explanation had.pre- ; judiced the original scheme, though he >■ personally was in favour of direct giving. Such a-scheme need not preclude gifts of goods on the part of those unable to give money,-ami he'thought a way could readily be devised of disposing of such gifts. The idea of-a fair entailed' a great amount of laborious work and would also be responsible for ; J great deal of waste, lie moved to' delete the clause in the motion referring to the direct appeal, and to substij tute the words "with a view to re-open-j in»; the question for consideration at the ■ present meeting."'' 9 The amendment was seconded, ami on j being put to 'the 1 meeting declared f" carried. Air Kinder then moved '' that a direct' f house-to-house canvass be made for the 9 purpose of soliciting cither money or I goods. " \ The motion was seconded bv Aliss " AlcXaught. " • E Mr fi. Milligan suggested that the '• motion made no provision for utilising II the services of those who would be prepared to assist in giving an entertainment, lie sugg'eseted a way of disposing of goods would be to hold an auction at the conclusion of an entertain'Jient. " Mr C. Church favoured an appeaj by circularising every household iu the district. Air J. M. Forrester said he had had a good deal of experience of canvassing from honse-to-honse, and characterised such a method of raising funds as atrocious. Air B. B. Walton said he was not I'avouinble to the proposal. He thought people should be invited to give spontaneously, and moved "That an appeal be made through the local newspapers who should be asked to open subscription lists in their columns, and that before the closing date a street collection be taken np." Air Walton supplemented his' proposal with un offer of £SO on behalf of the Xo.lh Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association. (Applause). The amendment was seconded by Air It. C. Young. Airs Forrester said that what the British Red Cross Society needed was money.' Tn addition to all that was being done locally in the wuy of sending goods for hospitals .and comforts for the wounded, money.was needed to providetransport and oilier services undertaken by the Red Cross. Air W, (i drove, said ut great debt had lo be discharged to the Bed Cross, who had done a great deal for the New Zea-

land forces ■ before anything had been ' undertaken in the Dominion, and it was "up to us" to find the money. Everybody should undertake some work In connection with the scheme, His own opinion was that the fair would not Be generally supported, but he thought, every man should undertake at least one half-day's work in collecting for the scheme, Air B. Brown, junr./said lie thought the re-consideration of the proposals the best thing that could have happened to the scheme, seeing it was not being readily taken up.- He suggested the committees already appointed should Work amougst their particular organisations, and that when the closing date for the appeal approached a big auction of goods collected should be held, or the Market could be opened for a week for the disposal of the gifts. Air. Milligan moved "That if goods in kind be offered suitable arrangements be miiile for their disposal," The amendment was seconded by Air Thomson and carried unanimously, Mr W. G. Grave then moved "That the committees originally set up lie retained, anil others added if necessary, and undertake a canvass of the particular sections of the community' which they represented." He suggested that the' organisation already established would be utilised and the whole Held of appeal could be covered. When the amendment was put to tho meeting it was, declared, thirty-two votes for iThil thirty-two against it, and the chairman gave his vole in favour of the proposal for the newspaper appeal and the street collection, together with the decision to accept gifts of goods for which suitable ■ arrangements for disposal would he made. On the motion being put iu that form it was declared carried unanimously. Air R. Brown's offer .of the use of one of the old Polytechnic shops as a receiving depot for goods was accepted with thanks. Messrs B. B. Walton, "R, Milligan, G. Sampler, and H. Familton wert> Appointed to, superintend: the receiving and disposal of gifts of goods. Air J. AlcPhail was elected treasurer to the fund, -and Alessrs H.> Familton and 'D. Thomson joint secretaries. ; It was decided that the ladies of: tlie Bed Cross, Society be asked to undertake the arrangements, iu connection with the street collection. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.