POPPY DAY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 10 June 1924, Page 7

POPPY DAY.

PRESENT DAY TO BE ALTERED. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 9. “Poppy Day” was under discussion at the R.S.A. Conference to-night. Both Messrs R. B. Bell and E. F. Andrews spoke against a suggestion that Poppy Day should be held on or about Armistice Day. The Rev. J. McCrea said poppies and Anzac Day served to go together. If Poppy Day was altered to Armistice Day tho sales of poppies would go down by 50 per cent. Mr W. E. Leadley said Christchurch had a splendid record in regard to Anzac celebrations, and the poppy played a prominent part each year. He moved that the custom be not interfered with. Mr R. B. Jacobs said he could not see any connection with Poppy Day and Anzac Day. It seemed wrong to benefit financially by appealing to people’s sentiment. It seemed a demoralising thing for the R.S.A. to "parade its bones” and then ask for financial assistance. It Poppy Day was to be continued he hoped it would be disassociated from Anzac Day. Mr Leadley’s motion “that the arrangement of Poppy Day as at prosent. bo not interfered with” was carried. . D "'as decided that local Associations determine the specific distribution ot proceeds of Poppy Day, special attention to be devoted to the relief of unemployment and the New Zealand Veteran's Home at Auckland.