MOSGIEL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 5

MOSGIEL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PATRIOTIC FUNDS

'"■•''', TO THE;: Sir,--As one of those present at the Community Sing, held in Mosgiel on Thursday last, I wish to take strong exception to the remarks made by Mr A. C. Cameron. I understand this entertainment was sponsored by the Mosgiel Business Men's. Association in support of the Air Force Queen. I feel sure these remarks were not made with the approval of the sponsors, as they were quite uncalled for and discouraging to those who attended the sing and assisted in contributing the sum of £76 to the carnival funds. Had Mr Cameron been more discreet in his comments this Sum would probably have been exceeded. Commenting on the result of this, district's offer. Mr Cameron compared the amount of £250 raised in Mosgiel proper with that raised in other centres, which also included the districts surrounding them. I understand that the amount from Mosgiel and the surrounding districts now exceeds £IOOO. Another point which Mr Cameron should remember is the close proximity of Mosgiel to the city, and the considerable amount of money being contributed by residents of the Taieri district through supporting the various appeals and functions in the city. I suggest that when the appeal has concluded and the final figures are published, this district will compare more than favourably with other parts of the province, and the well-known generosity of the Taieri people will not be doubted.—l am, etc.. Mosgiel, Nov. 5. Taieri Resident.

[We are informed by Mr Cameron that his remarks were qualified in that he told the audience that those present were probably those who had supported the appeal most generously, but he thought that they ought to know that the response from Mosgiel to that date had been most disappointing. Before addressing the audience, he (Mr Cameron) had just been told by the Mayor of Mosgiel that it was doubtful whether Mosgiel's contribution including even that evening's takings and the stock drive from the. immediate surrounding district, would total £250. Mr Cameron told the audience this and said that he felt that for a town of Mosgiel's importance, that was a very poor effort for such a worthy cause. Mr Cameron then went on to inform the audience what other districts, many much smaller than Mosgiel, had done and to express the hope that, even at the eleventh hour, Mosgiel would make a special effort to save its known re-

putation for generosity. Far the information of "Taieri Resident" and others, Mr Cameron adds, the total receipts to date from the whole of the Taieri Plain, which, of course, includes such centres as Outrani. Berwick and Henley, are: Cash. £404; stock drive; £326; total, £730. Judged from any angle, Mr Cameron states this is a particularly poor return compared with that raised from the other country cpntres such as Palmerston, Waikouai.tr. Middleman*, Milton, Balclutha. etc. The only bright spot was the £IUU (exclusive of the stock drive) contributed by little Henley, which is included in the £404 cash. The amount received from Milton and the surrounding districts is in the vicinity of £2BOO and in the Middlemarch district, exclusive of Hyde, £9OO. When speaking in these districts Mr Cameron warmly complimented them upon their splendid response. It was only fitting, therefore, he said, that he should tell the Mosgiel audience that he was disappointed with what Mosgiel had done. —Ed.. O.D.T.]