"OUR DAY."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 829, 6 October 1916, Page 9

"OUR DAY."

CONTINUANCE OF APPEAL.

DISCUSSED AT MEN'S MEETING

A meeting of men was held yesterday afternoon in connection with the "Our Day" appeal. Mr J. A. Flesher presided over a moderate attendance.

The chairman said the meeting had been called to see what more could be done towards extending the operations of the Red Cross appeal. No doubt the recent casualty lists would result in renewed enthusiasm for the work, and it had been decided that a self-denial week would be held. In the city £2750 3/- was received in separate subscriptions, made by 136 donors. Of these only 67 were city business firms, and of them 37 were in Hereford Street. He suggested the division of the city into 13 blocks, as the time was ripe and opportune to make a thorough canvass. Unfortunately, many people yet, numbering thousands, went about their pleasures and sport as though the war did not exist. One could not help but feel disappointed with this section of the community. It was for the meeting to decide what should be done further. During the past three months there had been 223,000 British casualties, so that one could readily see that the necessity to make a special effort was more than urgent.

Mr Horace Thompson said that he failed to see why a special effort should be made. Money was pouring in throughout the Empire for Red Cross purposes, and, provided the general average was maintained, there was no need to make these special efforts. Mr Flesher replied that the effort was to be made at the urgent request of Ihe London Executive. Last year its expenditure exceeded the revenue more than three limes. In the first year of the war the total casualties were 333,000, which number had nearly been reached by three months' casualties this year.

Mr Thompson said that the facts, as quoted, were undoubtedly illuminating, but if a city canvass was to be made the public must be educated to the national need. The chairman said that the canvass must be devoted to the business firms of the city. Only 07 out of over 2000 firms had as yet contributed, but he was satisfied that if the others were approached in the proper way over £2OOO could be raised during the week. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes said the attendance was disappointing, and he questioned, on the enthusiasm already shown, whether it would not be advisable to be satisfied with the amount collected. He did not wish the fund to (dash with the canvass lo be made by the Navy League. Mr W. B. Fox said that it was possible that the (57 business firms which had given were specially picked out and selected as "goodgivers." Mr P. L. Hallenslein said that collectors would have lo work in couples, and it would be necessary therefore to secure at least 50 helpers. It would be better to adjourn the meeting until a later dale, and endeavour (o secure a more full and representative altendance.

Mr J. A. Pannett suported Ihe continuance of the appeal, wheih resolved itself into a mailer of work. There was no doubt that the result achieved could have been bettered if more people had been approached and asked lo give. Finally, it was agreed, after some discussion, to adjourn Ihe meeting until Monday next, al I p.m. The chairman slated that whether the proposed canvass was held or not, next week would be a self-de-nial week, and a considerable amount would no doubt be raised.