HELP THY NEIGHBOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 50

HELP THY NEIGHBOUR.

TRAVELLERS’ BIG DAY. RECEIPTS TO DATE £9BO, ”1 " Where there’s a will there’s a way,” and where there are poor—and that i;» every where—there must be a way. Not even the disorganisation caused by" legislative nor the inclement weather on Friday morning were sufficient t.'» daunt the 80 odd collectors and others who devoted the day to finding a way to make the Commercial Travellers’ 1927" Big Day and art union as outstanding a success as the familiar “ bag day,” which has now been placed beyond the pale bv the strictures of the Statute Book. " The halfhearted rain showers that fell in the morning gave place at about mid-day to pleasant sunshine, under which congenial conditions the workers commenced the arduous day’s work that was barely finished at midnight. The indoor work organisation and the outdoor tasks of solicitation kept a large crowd working at top speed, and a good many officials and collectors were glad of the opportunity to relinquish their posts when the streets were no longer idled with a responsive public. For six years now the commercial travellers have made their annual appeal to the public by means of a method which has since been declared illegal, and it was feared that the necessary change of programme might affect adversely the ultimate results. In the minds of most of the travellers, however, that fear was dispelled by lunch time, when it was found, that the public had still a ready response to offer to the travellers’ appeal, which lias yearly resulted m the allocation of a four-figure sum to approved charities. Executive officials in charge of last week’s effort, speaking of the public response, could find no superlatives too expressive to describe the admirable manner m which public opinion had adapted itself to the exigencies occasioned by the quashing of the “ bag day ” system. “It just shows,” said one, speaking to our representative, “that the desire to help is there independent of any consideration ot possible gain from the investment of a shilling in a ticket. Be get a lot of credit for what we do, but it is generally the case that the public’s generosity is forgotten in the eulogy of our services. Our efforts would result in failure

vices. Our efforts would result in failure were it not for the ready response we get from all sections of the community.’’ The change over from lottery bags to art union tickets has apparently had no effect whatever on the attitude of tho public towards the movement, the aim of which is the alleviation of the circumstances of those whose lines are not cast in the pleasantest of places. The usual white clad pierrots paraded tho streets, and maintained a continuous attack on Mr anil Mrs Dunedin’s purse from 11 a.m. till 10.30 p.m. Many people find it not difficult to dodge the ordinary feminino collector in the streets by means of judiciously arranged detours and street crossings. but such artifices avail little against the wiles of the commercial traveller who seems to possess an infallible nose when it comes to scenting the most profitable quarry. The raucous and unmusical clamour of male voices proclaiming tho inestimable advantages resulting from thi> purchase of tickets was relieved at times by the harmonious strains of popular musio discoursed by the St. Hilda, Kaikorai, and Dunedin Pipe Bands, whose musical menu was greatly augmented by the efforts of the George Wallace Revue Company and tho vocal ability of the Spotted Pierrot chorus, whose popular ditties and improvised melodies were broadcasted from the comfortable eminence of a convenient, motor lorry. The significance, and to some extent the pathos, of the number entitled “Gocd-bye Bag Day ” were lost on u great section of the crowds that tramped Ibe street, but that little chorus was in the nature of a lament over the remains of the popular “bag day” which has been instrumental in bringing light and sunshine to many an embarrassed family. The Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) visited the clubrooms on several occasions during the day. and took the opportunity to thank the George Wallace Revue Company for the manner in which they had co-operated with the travellers. He understood that Mr Wallace and his troupe bad been particularly successful as collectors, and the city, as well as the association, owed them a debt of gratitude. The Mayor also included in his remarks Air John Hamer, manager of the Princess Theatre, who had made it possible for the company to assist. Air Wallace replied on behalf of his colleagues. Over 17,000 tickets were so’d on Friday. which meant that the takings for the day totalled more than £BB5. PADDY’S MARKET. The weaUier could scarcely have been worse for the final effort of the commercial travellers’ annual Big Day. The Paddy's Alarket at the corner of Princes and Dowling streets, however, was cleared in record time in spite of the rain. Au opportunity was also taken to dispose of some of the art union tickets left over from Friday. Carisbrook. in the afternoon, proved a good market for tickets, and on Saturday evening it was found that the number of unsold tickets was very small. These receipts, with the proceeds of the Paddy’s Alarket, brought the total takings up to £9SO odd. Saturday’s market resulted in a return of £35 10s, which sum would have been greatly augmented had the supplies held out longer. Everything was sold before midday.

The above-mentioned figure, however, does not satisfy the association, the officials of which are optimistic enough to expect that the final washing-up will bring the total up to £llOO. Speaking to our representative on Saturday t’-effing, the president of the Commercial Travellers and Warehousemen's Association (Air J. T. Gillan) said that there were still a great many smalt sums to be accounted for which would greatly increase the total. Referring to the general result, he said the association was highjy gratified at the success which had attended its efforts. He could not speak highly enough of the public's generous response, without which the club's efforts would have been wasted. He spoke in the highest terms of the excellent work done by the young men from city warehouses who had largely replaced the old hands.