A Campaign Comforts Fund Exhibition.
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An Opportunity to See How the Money is Being Spent.
The organizers of the Campaign Comforts Fund have been more than gratified by the many favourable expressions of opinion which have been volunteered in regard to the efficiency of the, whole scheme. It has, nevertheless, been their desire, for some while past, to afford facilities, to those who continue so generously to supply the " sinews of war," to investigate on the spot the manner in which purchases are made, money expended, and gifts despatched and distributed.
From close association with matters of this kind for the past twelve months we are afraid we must confess that there is not a little disorganized and ineffectual work being done in connection with some of the Funds for which the public is asked to supply money. We have always regarded ourselves as trustees in this matter and, in addition to the financial and other material assistance which Temple, Press Ltd, has been happy to afford, we have considered that it has been our duty to see that every penny which is subscribed is used in the best possible way, that purchases are madu as keenly as if we were engaged in a big civilian commercial undertaking, and, so far as lies in our power, that no trouble is spared which will ensure that the goods secured actually reach the men for whom they are intended. We are confident that, for months past, these ends have been attained, and we, therefore, considered that an opportunity should be afforded to our subscribers and their sympathizers to see for themselves exactly how it is all being done.
On three days. of last week we arranged a small but very oomplete exhibition of the Fund's many activities, and in response to the invitation which we extended to the principal subscribers to the Fund, both in the trade and out of it, a goodly number of people paid a visit to our Stores and Packing Rooms and, we think, were not disappointed in having spared the time for such a purpose.
Perhaps the four photographs which we reproduce on this page will serve as well as any other method to indicate what was attained in this direction. We may supplement. these by recording that, amongst the most interesting exhibits. was a complete despatch of St x it1 lb cases, such as are now forwarded every 14 days to all parts of the active-service field. This in itself proved to be one of the most convincing evidences of our regular organization:
Perhaps one of the achievements of which the officials of this Fund are most justly proud, is the somewhat complicated but particularly effective method that has been designed to ensure, so far as is humanly possible, that big columns and little columns, as well as individual isolated drivers, receive their share of our comforts equitably according to their numbers and at proportionate intervals. No higher praise for this part. of our work could be desired than that volunteered by Mr. W. J. Iden, the chief engineer of the whole of the L.G.O.C. undertaking, and by Mr. G. Shave, manager of the great Associated Equipment factory at Walthamstow, who characterized the methods which have been developed as "very well conceived indeed, and apparently highly effective." This from such masters of organization was high praise indeed.
We may be permitted to quote one other authority on the other all-important branch of our work, that of purchasing, and this came from Mr. -A, W. Gamage, head of the great trading concern in Holborn, one of the keenest business men in Holborn, who spontaneously expressed his opinion that our organization was quite remarkable, and that we were purchasing very keenly and taking exceptional care that what we bought was of the best possible value for the money. That certificate to the adequacy of our purchasing methods is indeed gratifying.