STREET APPEAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23512, 24 November 1939, Page 9

STREET APPEAL

SOLDIERS' COMFORTS FLAG DAY IN AUCKLAND 1 . ' —-* • WIDE USES FOR FUNDS GENEROUS RESPONSE EXPECTED Flag day, the occasion of the 6treet appeal to the public for funds for soldiers' comforts, is to be observed in the city and suburban areas to-day. The collection will be made in 22 local body areas, and upward of 500 women, many of them connected with patriotic and social organisations, wiil give their * services as collectors. . '. "I can conceive or no other cause, for the moment, for which an appeal is more appropriate or a liberal response more justified than that associated with the welfare of those who have answered the call to arms,'' said the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, in a statement last night. Sir Ernest, who is chairman of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic. Council, said:—"lt must be our privilege and pleasure, within the limits of our available means and balanced judgment, to provide our soldiers, saiio'rs in the Royal Navy, the mercantile marine, and air force men with necessary'comforts and amenities'outside the ordinary service issue." He appealed to citizens to open their hearts and their purses and assistto fill the collection boxes to-day. Ona silver coin from everyone, he thought, was not too much to ask. Sum Already Spent The funds raised to-day will directly benefit the thousands of men now iu camp at Papakura, at Narrow Neck and North Head and at the Hobsonville air base. Up to the present about £I2OO contributed by generous citizens, has been spent in providing euch equipment as material for cricket, basketball and football, table tenuis aiid other games, for band instruments and for rowing skiffs for the men at the air base. Money , can also be well spent on ' writing material, books and papers,, cigarettes and tobacco and Christmas cheer. All the funds collected will be placed in the charge of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, which is free to spend the money at its discretion. Thousand# of Emblems About 1200 'collecting boxsjs have been provided, and many of these have been made voluntarily, by students of the Seddon Memorial Technical College and by the employees of various joinery and cabinetmaking firms. Tens of thousands of "Soldiers' Comforts" paper emblems prominently displaying the Union Jack have t>een prepared to give to donors to-day by the collectors, who will be patrolling the an early hour until 6 p.m. Kepresentatives of over 30 organisations will be assisting. The money from the city area will be counted by the revenue department of the Transport Board, and arrangements have been made for the town clerks in the outer areas to supervise the counting in their respective .districts. Confidence is expressed that the, opportunity thus given to show practical appreciation of those who have offered their -services - the war will be universally welcomed.