THE BETTER WAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1933, Page 4

THE BETTER WAY.

The decision of the New Plymouth Mayor’s Relief Council not to proceed with the proposed “prosperity week” for the purpose of raising funds was based upon sound reasoning. The council has decided to make a special appeal to the public in February, and Mr. P. E. Stainton put the matter in a nutshell when he said that direct appeals gave 100 per cent, results, while from indirect appeals the returns were very much less. Such appeals as ‘prosperity weeks” entail a good deal of outlay to get them launched. No doubt the value of good organisation and publicity in public appeals is very great, but the fact remains that their success depends in the long run on the openhandedness of the public. In the opinion of the committee set up by the relief council the response to a direct appeal is likely to be as good as to one that has been specially organised, with the added advantage that there will have been considerably less outlay, and expenses can be kept at a minimum right through the appeal. The cause for which the appeal is to be made is one deserving of sympathetic consideration. It has never failed to elicit practical sympathy so far, and it is unlikely that it will do so when tire next “drive” for funds is initiated. The generosity displayed towards the various relief agencies has been one of the brightest sides of the economic troubles of the past four years. It has been the more readily obtainable where the benevolent have been convinced that proper organisation for distribution exists, and that donations are not absorbed in administrative costs. The decision of the New Plymouth Mayor’s Relief Council in regard to "prosperity week” should strengthen that conviction.