POPPY DAY APPEAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 11

POPPY DAY APPEAL

FUND BUILT UP TO £3548 £SSG COLLECTED IN 3 YEARS What the Poppy Day efforts have meant to Gisborne from the point ol view of pounds, shillings, and pence was revealed to members ot the Rotary Club to-day in a letter received from tlio president of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers’ Association, Lieut.-Col. R. F. Gainbrill, and read at the weekly luncheon. Tlie suggestion that the business men of the town should give their personal support to the annual appeal, which is to bo made oil Saturday next, was adopted with enthusiasm, after some discussion, and it was recommended that business firms should follow the example set by firms in the Homeland, and devoto certain portions of their regular advertising space in the newspapers to making tlie appeal and its objects known to tho general public. The letter from the G.R.S.A. president was directed to thanking the Rotary Club for support previously extended, and contained the following interesting passages: “1 am directed by my executive to thank your club for its support, and in view of the fact that Poppy Day is again almost upon us, 1 would like to point out that in tlio last three years 1927-28-29, my association has expended in this town a sum of £3548 in the relief of unemployment. Of this amount a sum of £556 15s Id has bben collected from the citizens of Gisborne and tlie .surrounding districts. It will he seen that almost £3OOO has been brought into tlio town from outside sources as a result ol our efforts. The whole, of this amount has been spefit in wages, and has flowed through the ordinary trade and business flannels of this town. For this money, which las all been spoilt on utilitarian works, your borough council has obtained amenities tor our citizens that in the ordinary course could not have been afforded. As concrete instances we refer to tho improvement of the Kaili riverbank and to the Kaiti beach road in particular, though maiiv other minor works lave been undertaken.

“It. is safe to say that we lave relieved tlie charitable" aid of at least .£ISOO expenditure during these three years. In placing these facts before yori as a business proposition we do not lose sight of your Rotary motto, “Service before Self,” which renders the business aspect of tho proposition negligible; but as we ask for your sympathy and support it may be necessary tor you to place facts before those wlioin you desire to interest, in our works and who are not Rotarians. For this reason 1 make tho figures available, while 'claiming no particular merit for our works. “The coming winter will be a hard one, and if we desire support from the public it is only fair to the public to let them know what we are doing. It is felt that the significance of Poppy Day is not sufficiently understood in this country. Rotarians who have visited England, and have been privileged to bo in London on Armistice Day, have told you how even the beggars in the streets wear poppies on that day. The poppy is not. a token that the wearer has paid his contribution to the 'collections, and therefore need not be worried further, hut is intended to bo worn on Anzae Day in remembrance of those gallant men and women who sacrificed their lives lor their country in tlie Great War; whose service freely given was of the highest kind. The poppy therefore ranks with your Rotary badge, and represents a service that we all sincerely hope no Rotarian will hereafter be asked to give. “As certain of your members may be advertisers in the local newspapers, we would noinmend to them the example set bv business houses in the Old Country, wiio in the days preceding Poppy Day feature in some small way in their business advertisements the fact that the appeal is being made. This proves of great assistance in England, and we are confident Would help us in no small degree.”