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I will ask those ladies and gentlemen who have room in their homes for one or more of these homeless sufferers to give their names to the secretary at the close of the meeting.

“May I ask for a show of hands of those who are prepared to accommodate one or more of these poor people?

“Ah! Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you! It is extremely gratifying to observe such a magnificent response. You make me very proud.

“We come, now, to the matter of the organisation for the collecting and dispatch of relief supplies. I am going to suggest that the town be cut up into blocks, and that separate committees be set up to arrange for the handling of donations in each district. Already some supplies have been sent to the stricken area by some of our more energetic citizens; but, it seems to me, without organisation we shall have considerable overlapping. Several ladies and gentlemen have signified their willingness to act on the various committees. I will read their names, and ask all who are willing to assist in the collection and packing of goods to stay behind after the meeting. . . .”

At public meetings in every community in the country, executives, dressed in brief authority, addressed crowds momentarily shaken from their calm by the catastrophe. They spoke ably or with difficulty; and the burden of their speech was identical from North Cape to the Bluff.

“Let us forget ourselves in mutual endeavour to assist others.”

On this, the day following the earthquake, national generosity flamed at white heat. At this moment the nation was willing and eager to provide shelter, food and clothing for every inhabitant of the devastated territory, and to pour out treasure enough to rebuild the destroyed towns on a magnificent scale. It waited with its wealth in its hand; waited to be asked—individually.