Our 1914-1917 Comforts Funds t20,000 Raised.
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Final Balance Cheque Despatched: Final Audited• Accounts.
THE 22nd October, 1914, witnessed the establishment of THE C OMMERCIAL MOTOR, Campaign Comforts Fund for the Overseas A.S.C., M.T. (afterwards, by official transposition, the M.T., A.S.C.). The winters of 1914-1915, 1915-1916 and 19161917 were long and dreary ones. We were abld, by the co-operation of members of the industry more especially, to raise a fund which, with a fair valuation of thousands of gifts in kind, showed receipts which aggregated approximately 220,000. Our issue for the 19th April last contained an exchange of letters between the Editor, as :Hon Sec. and Treasurer of the Fund, and General Crofton Atkins, (I.E., on behalf a the War Office, in which correspondence it was agreed that, as from the 31st March last, the A.S.C. headquarters staff took the Fund over. We occupied part of our time during the months of April and May in packing the stores on hand, and since the beginning of June we have . realized (for the benefit of the Fund) certain small surpluses of packing cases and other effects. An electric lantern,. purchased and used during the winter of 1915-1916 in connection with a series of works con certs, has been presented—complete with screen and appurtenances—to the G.C., M.T. depot, Grove Park.
It was our pleasure last week to supplernent the original balance cheque of 2900, which sum was paid to Col. Tarver, Hon. Treas. of the A.S.C. Central Comforts Fund in April, by a final one for £87 19s. lid. It may also interest supporters to know that, on the oocasion of a recent visit to Gol. Tarver at the War Office, we were told that he bad already spent more than 25000 on the Overseas M.T., A.S.C., in respect of comforts for the coming winter. The officers and menherefore, will not suffer from d our necessary action, due largely to shortage of-staff, in " handing over."
We wish to repeat, in conclusion, our thanks to all supporters and voluntary helpers of this 220,000 fund. It was initiated successfully, carried on energetically for 2i years (three winters), and then taken over officially. H.R.H. the Duchess of Fife (Princess Arthur of Connaught), our President in this matter, evinced great personal interest in all we did, visiting our offices once herself and through her lady-in-waiting several times; she also signed letters of thanks to the principal voluntary helpers.