[Transcribed from The Summerside Journal 13 March 1941]
WAR SAVINGS DRIVE IN THIS DISTRICT SATISFACTORY SAYS COMMITTEE
Statement From County Chairman Gives Instances of Exceptional Self Sacrifice.
Yesterday a representative of this newspaper interviewed the County Chairman with regard to results achieved in the Summerside District. A canvass has been conducted here since June last but partially owing to lack of co-operation from sources which might properly have been expected to be leaders, the response during the past summer and fall months fell far short of expectations.
The February objective was set at a minimum of eight hundred pledges and although the campaign was hurriedly organized and also late in getting under way, the results achieved were quite satisfactory. Our citizens generally showed a fine spirit of co-operation and as a result the objective was reached and almost nine hundred pledges are on file.
The official report sent to Ottawa was comprised only of actual pledges received by the canvassers and placed on file at the central office. Some citizens preferred to deal directly through the banks, post office or otherwise but as they furnished no information to the committee these could not be included in the official count. The actual number of participants is therefore much greater than shown but the action of those who declined to record their pledges has tended to detract from the evidence of complete co-operation by our citizens.
Throughout the Town the canvassers were courteously received but nowhere was a finer response made than amongst the wage earners who are in many cases making real sacrifices to save and lend what they can. In one instance a Veteran of the last war who now has a wife and ten children to maintain, gladly pledged a portion of his earnings for the duration of the war. At the Summerside Academy and High School the entire staff have pledged a portion of their earnings and through their leadership the pupils have purchased War Savings Stamps in a combined amount of almost $1000.00 since the campaign started. One outstanding example of the interest taken by the pupils is the case of George Pope, a boy eleven years of age who from his own earnings of the past two years has been saving for the purchase of a bicycle but when the appeal was made he responded by investing his savings amounting to Thirty Dollars in War Savings Certificates and still continues to purchase two stamps each week.
Complete co-operation was received from the Officers, N. C. O's and Airmen as well as the civilian employees attached to No. 9 Air Training School. Wing Commander Fullerton has taken deep interest and has given full co-operation in the interests of all the men under his command. Notwithstanding the heavy demands made on his time, on three occasions he devoted valuable periods to assist our committee. He met with and discussed the whole enterprise with a group appointed to interview him and on other occasions assembled first all ranks of the R.C.A.F. and afterwards the permanent or semi-permanent civilian members and workmen so they could be interviewed by our representatives. We have since been advised that many members of the R.C.A.F. have pledged their savings. These men are not only preparing themselves to participate in the actual fighting for their Country but are also willing to loan their savings to the Government. It is of such men that Prime Minister Churchill said, "Never was so much owed by so many to so few." Most, if not all the Airport civilian employees have authorized the Departments by which they are engaged to deduct quite substantial amounts each month from their wages to be applied to the purchase of War Savings Certificates. In this way they are showing a full appreciation of their responsibilities.
Although the campaign ended on Saturday last, the central committee will be pleased to receive any further pledges from parties who have been missed in the canvass or now feel they wish to participate. After April 6th next, the campaign will again be reopened and will be continued for the duration of the war.
In the canvass so far, all members or employees on the staffs of the following have pledged a portion of their earnings, the same to be deducted each payday for the purpose of purchasing War Saving Certificates:
Summerside Academy and High School
Robinson's Mill & Bakery Ltd.
James Arthur & Co.
Island Telephone Co. Ltd.
Prince Edward Island Fur Pool Ltd.
Journal Publishing Co. Ltd.
F. W. Strong Co. Ltd.
Prince Edward Island Bag Co.
MacFarlane Produce Co.
M. F. Schurman Co. Ltd.
Reliable Motors
A. Horne & Co.
J. Henry Gaudet (Olympia Tea Room)
Canadian Bank of Commerce
Bank of Nova Scotia
Provincial Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada
Editor's Note: The above report does not include returns from C.N.R. Employees, Dominion-Provincial Civil Service Employees or Contractors Employees at the Airport projects.
