THE POOR AND NEEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 14

THE POOR AND NEEDY.

GREAT CHARITY DRIVE. TO-MORROW'S ARRANGEMENTS. CLOTHES AND MONEY WANTED. Householders will be asked to-morrow morning to contribute, in the form / of clothing or cash donations, to the charity drive which is to be made by the Commercial Travellers aind Warehousemen's Association on behalf of the poor and needy. Between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. an army of voluntary collectors will participate in the campaign, visiting as far as possible every house in the city and suburbs, the North Shore boroughs, Otahuhu, Papatoetoe, Manurewa and New Lynn, collecting tho parcels and conveying them to a central depot established in No. 11 shed on the Central Wharf. Householders are requested to have their parcels ready by 8 a.m. The travellers' cash and clothes drive is one of tho most valuable efforts made to help the poor. Previous experience shows that the public response to the appeal is invariably generous, hardly a house visited failing to contribute something when the collectors call. Anyone who is privileged to see the work of the various charitable institutions a few days after the drive, when the sorting and distribution t0 ( deserving people of tons of new and cast-off clothing is in full swing, cannot fail to appreciate the importance of the travellers' effort in alleviating a great deal of unavoidable distress occasioned by unemployment and sickness attendant on winter conditions.

A Wonderful Organisation. A visit to the campaign headquarters yesterday revealed a marvellously efficient organisation, set in train with a thoroughness that would do credit to an army corps on the eve of battle. Maps of the areas to bo covered, as far south as Manurewa, had been divided into 40 sections, each of which is provided with a flection captain to supervise operations. No lesß than 1500 volunteers have offered their services, and the have been allotted with the minutest care and attention to detail. In addition, however, the campaign directors have been promised the assistance of Boy Scouts and girls from the Interhouse Girls' Sports Association, so that the ranks of the volunteer army will bo swelled to 2000. A fleet of motor-cars numbering 400 will be engaged in the drive, while 60 motorlorries will be employed to transport the parcels to the Central Wharf. The last drive conducted by the association was in 1928, and it is anticipated that the response to the present appeal will bo more successful than ever owing to the widespread distress. An idea of the manner in which the public responded on the last occasion may bo gauged from the fact that £2OOO was given in cash, as well as clothing valued at £12,500. It is hoped to equal, if not exceed, this splendid result to-morrow.

Army oI Girl Collectors. The volunteers from the Interhouse Girls' Sports Association will carry out a collection through business houses, shops and offices. A local photographic firm has offered to take a large portrait of the girl who makes th 6 largest collection and present it to her to mark her achievement. No collection will be made prior to 8 a.m., and it is anticipated that the drive will be completed by 1 p.m. The bona fides of the workers will be guaranteed by small white cardboard eight-pointed stars, on which the association's name will be inscribed in blue print, and where cash donations are made the amount given will be recorded on collection cards. Collection boxes will be used in the canvass of business premises. With a view to encouraging country contributions the Railways Department, the Northern Steamship Company and the Aard Tourist Service have kindly consented to carry parcels free of cost, providing they are definitely addressed to the secretary of the association and stamped '■ For the Poor and Needy." Co-operation of Children. Boy Scout headquarters, co-operating with the association, have received a list of 40 assembling points at which the various troops will parade at 8 a.m. In addition, 56 boys from the Auckland Grammar School and 100 from the Technical College have signified their willingness to work in the campaign. By courtesy of the Auckland Education Board a circular has been sent to all the schools in Auckland setting forth tho best manner in which tho children can assist. On Monday representatives of the association and charitable organisations will meet at the main depot on the Central Wharf to make arrangements for the formidable task of sorting and distributing the harvest of clothing that wilj be collected. It is likely that this will occupy 150 workers for a week. Although the organisation of the drive is exclusively in the hands of the Travellers' Association, they much appreciate the help which is being given by many individuals and organisations, including the' City Council and other local bodies, churches of all denominations, tho Education Board, headmasters of various schools, schoolchildren, the Rotary Club, the Boy Scouts Association, officials of IYA, and the Interhonse Girls' Sports Association. Simultaneously with the Auckland drive the northern travellers will carry out a similar campaign in Whangarei.