THE TRAVELLERS’ DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1929, Page 4

THE TRAVELLERS’ DAY

CHRISTMAS CHEER FUND £125.

“808-A-BAG BUNS” MAKE £5O

When the commercial travellers set themselves to accomplish a task even wretched weather does not dampen their ardour. Success attended their Christmas cheer drive in New Plymouth yesterday. The band of workers toiled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but their labours were rewarded and a total of over £125 was counted in the evening. In hundreds of bags 12,000 buns left the bakery yesterday morning and 30 motor-cars raced away to all parts of the town with their steaming loads. The distributors roused almost every householder in the town with the cheery cry, “Bune! A bob a bag!” Those 12,000 buns were disposed of in record time, with hundreds of householders clamouring for more. There were no more to sell, but that batch represented a profit of £5O. The organisation reflected credit on Mr. J. Joll, who had charge of this branch of the drive, with his energetic band of C.T.’s, friends and about 60 High School boys. The chariot full of toys that drove up to the children’s wards at the public hospital provided the most pleasant item on a programme of splendid efforts. Just after 10 o’clock Father Christmas, in full regalia and attended by several gay minions, pulled up his ancient white steed before the wards, and the gay trappings and the nondescript four-wheeler merged into a wonderful sledge abounding with a great collection of toys.

When Father Christmas and his attendant began their rounds the happy faces of the children told them how much they were appreciated. Each child received a present —a toy doll or animal, a book, a rattle or trumpet. Balloons were distributed generously to float about beds and lend a carnival air. It was fine fun for the children. And the nurses, doctors and adults looked on gratefully. The medical superintendent and matron expressed thanks for the travellers’'visit.

Father Christmas (Mr. E. James) and

his attendant (Mr. R. Eaton) must have felt very pleased with their good turn as they drove out of the hospital gates.

FUN IN THE AFTERNOON.

Rain after lunch did not dampen the ardour of the travellers, who issued from their base a merry, gaily-clad band bent on business. Headed by the chariot and to the accompaniment of a whining tin whistle, they marched into Devon Street and promptly arrested His Worship the Mayor. Mr. H. V. S. Griffiths, His Worship offered no resistance but readily consented to address the crowd from the travellers’ motor-lorry. In giving the C.T.’s the freedom of tire town, the Mayor congratulated them on the . splejidid effort they had made in the past year, and trusted this year would be equally successful. Ho felt sure everyone sided, with them when they tried to make the Christmas of the needy as happy and as comfortable as their own.

Cheers were given for the Mayor and the charge on which he was arrested was read ae follows;— ‘‘You are hereby charged that you did play in the main street of New Plymouth, namely, Devon Street, in company with A. B. Meiklejohn, a man well-known to the police, an illegal game of two-up. The said game is a breach of the by-laws set down by the City Fathers and Reginald Day, of the Borough Council.” His Worship pleaded guilty and was fined a guinea, plus a guinea for ad*, mitting the offence. Numerous humorous onslaughts on folk of prominence continued during the afternoon and every arrest substantially enriched the coffers of the Christmas cheer fund.