POPPY DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16714, 21 April 1922, Page 7

POPPY DAY.

SALES IN THE STREETS.

To be seen on the streets to-day without a red artificial poppy in one’s but-ton-hole is to L>© hopelessly out of the fashion, for to-day has been appointed throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand as Poppy Sal© Day. At all the strategical points in the city ladies ar© stationed with supplies of red poppies from Flanders and the public are a-sked to buy the poppies and to wear them as a token of respect for the memory of the glorious dead, who fell in the late war.

The poppies have lx*en made by the inhabitants of the devastated regions of Northern France, and are replicas of the poppy which flourished on the lands laid bare by the invaders. The poppies are being sold at Is and 2s each, and of this amount it has been decided by th© New Zeaalnd Returned Soldiers’ Association that 25 per cent shall ho paid to the people who made them and 75 per cent shall bo used as a fund with which to provide work for unemployed returned soldiers in distress. By noon the sunm of nearly £2OO had been realised in Christchurch through th© sal© of the poppies, and it is expected that this amount will be very largely increased by half past six

to-night when the sale will cease for the day. The public are lxfing specially asked to wear tho poppies on Anzac Day, and in order that those who do not secure them to-day may bo afforded an opportunity of assisting th© cause, another street sal© will b© held on Monday.

Altogether there are thirteen stands in th© city for the sal© of poppies and there has been a very gratifying response to the appeal for helpers. The stands are in charge of the following workers: Mrs T. E. Taylor (W.C.T.U.), Airs Beadel (Navy League), Airs Thacker (Harbour Lights Guild), Miss Overton (Victoria League). Miss Orchard (Women’s Club), Mrs Whittaker (Home Economics Association), Mrs IT. J. Raphael. Mrs Munro. Miss Camie. Miss Craeroft Wilson, Mrs Maddren, Mr W. G. Eldrer, and Mr Lloyd. Mrs WWood, president of the Women’s National Reserve, is -n charge of tho arrangements, assisted by Mrs R. Evans, and Mrs H. Thompson and Mrs H. S. Batchelor received tho money from the helpers.