A GENEROUS COMMUNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 6

A GENEROUS COMMUNITY.

Taranaki has often in the past had cause to congratulate itself on the generosity and public spirit 6f its citizens, and recent events show that the virtue still shines undimmed by financial straits and economic stress. The response accorded several appeals for funds made recently in various parts of the province is little short of remarkable. The large sum obtained in Hawera for the relief of unemployment was an astonishing effort considering the difficulty of the times for all centres of dairying districts. Then on Poppy Day, while communities of similar size were congratulating themselves on having collected between £lOO and £2OO, New Plymouth and the surrounding district gathered in over £5OO. The latest illustration is the success of the Plunket Society’s supplementary effort that came to a conclusion last night, and as a result of which a sum more than two and a-half times greater than the amount anticipated was collected. Perusal of the achievements of such philanthropic organisations as the St. .John Ambulance Association and the Red Cross Society reveals a similar record of success achieved. And so it is with a hundred and one other institutions in both town and country. It is well to remember that behind the bare announcement of objects gained and sums of money amassed lies a vast amount of efficient organisation and sustained individual effort. The enormous sacrifice of time and personal service, particularly on the part of the women of the community, is little known to the general public, but it is to the everlasting credit of the latter that on the whole the sacrifice is not permitted to go unrewarded. While this spirit of generosity and helpfulness prevails there need be little fear regarding the future of the provincial character.