An Appeal In Respect of the Coming Winter.
Page 18
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By The Editor.
We now have had practically two years experience in the conduct of our Campaign Comforts Fund for the officers and men of the Overseas columns, units and detached parties of thP MT., A.S.C. We have been concerned, on behalf of the supporters of our Fund, with a growing strength—initially some 5900, but now exceeding fourteen times that figure. The efficers ana men. wha receive and distribute the comforts co-operate witti us by requisitioning such classes of articles as are most suited to the needs at the Fronts, whilst we have the closest help of the A.S.C. headquarters at the War Office. The Fund, in fact, as is generally well known now, is both officially helped and officially recognized. We are prepared to go on with it, being assured of the continuance of that generous support which has been regularly acknowledged in our pages and in the cases of comforts whieh have been sent Overseas.
Winter Purchases the More Urgent..
The experience which is now at our disposal clearly satisfies us on one important point : it is desirable almost to double the rate of purchasing during the winter months—above all in October, November and Deceniber—and to slacken purchases during the summer months. We have communications before us which, show that, despite promptitude of despatch 'and in transit. during the past two winters, not a few columns and units have been unable to complete the distribution of comforts—of leather driving-gloves and woollen scarves, for example—until the month of February. Now that we are in possession of facts which slilm this to be the case sometimes, although it is not a general experience, wre are resolved to take all possible steps to complete desipatch of winter supplies at least two months earlier than heretofore. We ask our various supporters to enabls us to do so, and it is only by altering the incidence.of their remittances that they can Sc, assist..
£120 Wanted from Each Principal Supporter Between Now and March Next.
The principal supporters of the Furid, for the year ending the 30th inst., contributed 2120 each, and made their remittames by monthly or quarterly cheques—of 210 or £30, respectively. We ask them, and we do so with all confidence, to help us in the third year of our work, not to a greater extent than during the second year, but wholly during the winter
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months. We appeal for support at the same rate for the year, but payable by monthly cheques of 2,20 each, or quarterly cheques (in advance) of 260 each, over the winter. We promise to make no appeal whatsoever, to anybody who responds, concerning or during the months of .April to September next. if anybody likes to pay down the whole 2120, and "be done with it," which happening we consider a not unlikely one, we shall be placed in a better position still, and be enabled to commit ourselves forthwith to more-extensive purchases of winter comforts. Bis dat qui cito-dat—twice gives he who gives quickly.
Smaller Subscriptions Wanted in the Same Ratio.
Valued help has been accorded to us, during the financial year which is now closing, as the particulars on the top portion of this page disclose, upon bases other than that of the £120 maximum. We are hopeful that most of these subscribers will see their way to adopt the same alteration in the method of remittance as that which we ask in respect of those ,subs.cribers who have elected to give larger amounts.
It is for payment of the whole money during the winter months that we ask.
We shall, of course, be delighted if any of those who have, during the financial year now closing, given sums varying from £50 upwards can see their way to acknowledge the good work with which we have been. associated by increasing such amounts for 1916-1917.
We Can Usefully Spend More Money.
We wish to conclude this appeal by pointing out the audited receipts during the first period of the Fund, from the 22nd October, 1914, to the 30th September, 1915, were 25438 15s. id. We shall next week be in a position to announce the receipts (subject to audit) from the 1St October, 1915, to the 30th inst. ; it can already be seen that they exceed the receipts for the previous period by approximately £1000.
The above-recorded increase has not kept pace with the increased number of officers and men who have gone overseas ; we trust that this point will be kept in mind, and also the important factor of our being the recognized and official means of dealing, on agreed and sound lines, with the reasonable requirements of the MT., A.S.C., as regards comforts for -overseas. The Fund's aid for the Prisoners of War Funds-will be 'continued, throughout the winter, at the rate of 247 105. monthly.