FOR THE SOLDIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16994, 3 May 1917, Page 2

FOR THE SOLDIERS

MISS BEATRICE HOLLOWAY'S IDEA. AUTOGRAPH FLAGS AUCTIONED,

. , A Dady J |>"os reporter had a brief but interesting chat yesterday afternoon with two loading--ladies of the ,J. C. Williamson theatrical company at present npnearV! ti' s , c'ty Beatrice Holloway and Air Robert Gvcig. Wherever she has been Miss Holloway has always shown a great deal of interest in patriotic work and her desire to help has taken a definite and practical shape, with the result that she has lent very valuable material assistance in several,of the King's dominions. . it was while Miss Holloway was playintr 111 South Africa that she was struck by an idea that instantly became a useful and permanent vehicle for raising money for various patriotic objects. The African tour of Miss Holloway and Mr Grcig synchronised with the troublous times of the rebellion 111 that country, and the fact that this jadv s happy inspiration struck the popular imagination while the iron was hot was doubtless responsible for its immediate and gratifying success. The scheme devised was a simple one, but therein lay its effectiveness. A large Union Jack was obtained, and upon this the autograph of as many returned soldiers as possible were affixed. The flag was then submitted to public auction in Durban, and on the first occasion on which it was offered it produced the splendid result of £280. As time went on so many autographs wore obtained that it became necessary to add other flags, and, according to the latest advice, there were engrossed on this memento no fewer than 15,000 names. The original buyer of the Union Jack re-presented ifc, and a fund which was opened in connection with it on behalf of the lied Cross Society has now reached the magnificent sum of The procedure followed by the ladies of Durban is to work the soldiers' names on the flags in silk, and the small fee charged for this privilege also goes to swell the fund. So comprehensive a collection of names was secured that the flag has become an official roll of honour, and as years go by an ever-increasing degree of historical interest must attach to it. At the present time it occupies a placo of in the Durban Town Hall. "When the Williamson Company reached Wellington," proceeded Miss Holloway, "we adopted the same method there, our idea being to do what wo could to help the patriotic funds of the dominion as far a-s possible. We soon had a flag ready, and quickly got it inscribed with the names of between 400 and 500 Anzacs. It was put up for auction during an interval in one of our performances, and after a few bids of £5 and £10 some one in the audience started it at 100 guineas. In all it realised £200. 111 Christchurch the other day we also sold by auction a flag, which had been autographed by Anzac men. and were able to hand over the sum of £77 for patriotic purposes in that city. " Now that we have come to Duncdin." continued Miss Holloway, "the idea will again be put into operation, and," she added smilingly, "wo expect a generous response from your city. A flag is* already being prepared, and the manager of tho Anzac Club (Mr Fisher) has agreed to get as many names for it as he can. As soon as it is ready it will bo displayed in one of the shop windows, and on Saturday night we will sell it during the interval. The money that is obtained for it will all be handed to the local branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association."

Both _ Miss Holloway and Mr Greig are -Australians by birth and visited Dunedin about four years ago with Mr Niblo's combination, w : th which they remained until the outbreak of the war, when they io : ned the \Villiamson firm, and left for South Africa. Durinrr the season in South Africa, tho ordinary routine of life was varied by the nove] experience of conv'ng into contact with the local ehull-'tions that were a nart of the great European upheaval. Their original intention was to s P n nd five months in the land of the veldt, but this period was extended to 12 months before th°y again saw the shores of Australia. Arrived there, little time was lost in making arrangements for an American tour, but, these were cancelled, and the present visit to New Zealand was decided upon.