PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 83, 3 November 1939, Page 8

PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES

CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE TAKES

OFFICE

Mil •: : i'-" ' " MEETING IN WHAKATANE A meeting of the Bay of Plenty Zone 'G' Patriotic Committee took place in the Borough Council Chambers on Wednesday, the meeting being the first of its kind to be held in the district following the inauguration of the new government scheme for national control.

in his opening remarks the chairman, Mr L. R. Wilkinson, Mayor of Tauranga, explained that the Zone Centennial Committee would, by law, now function as the Zone Patriotic Committee. The work of the committee with respect to the observance of tlie Dominion Centennial now was nearly completed and he was glad to report that the Provincial Centennial Council was pleased and impressed with the manner in which the activities had been carried out in this Zone. The committee would now turn its attention to matters connected With* the Dominion Avide clTort to raise funds for patriotic purposes. He outlined in detail the procedure laid down respecting the collection ; and disposal of these funds, and reported on his attendance at meetings of the Provincial Patriotic Council in connection with points of difficulty in interpreting the. regulations which had been raised, and how these points of difficulty had been satisfactorily cleared up.

Wide Representation. Those present included His Worship the Mayor of Tauranga. Mr L. ft. Wilkinson (chairman), Rev. Father Eccleston, G. P. Spratt (Tan ranga County) and 11. Mann (Tauranga Harbour Board); from Tc Puke, His Worship the Mayor, J. Brown); from Whakatane, His Worship the Mayor, B. S. Barry and C. G. Lucas (Whakatane County). Apologies were received from the Whakatane County Chairman, J. L. Burnett and Cr S. S. Shapley (Whakatane Borough).

A general discussion took place on AA hat actual poAvers Avere delegated to the committee. It Avas pointed out that the regulations prevented other than authorised persons from collecting either funds or goods and that the power to appoint such persons rested with the committee. It Avas therefore decided to delegate the appointment of such persons to the mayors and chairmen of local bodies throughout the zone, and further that these officers be empowered to exercise all functions Avithin the limits of the regulations within their areas. Dispersal of Funds. The next point under discussion was the fact that all monies raised in Whakatane must be sent to the Auckland central council, and that the local committee or officers, should they desire to utilise portion for local activities must make application to the central authority for a grant. This method Avas considered by delegates to be cumbersome in that, for small sums for the furtherance of possible efforts a con siderable delay would occur before the money was forthcoming. It was therefore decided to instruct Mr Wilkinson who Avill be attending a meeting of the provincial committee in Hamilton to-day, to seek permission for the Bay of Plenty zone to retain say 25 per cent of their funds, or alternately to have an imprest account for such centres as Opotiki, Whakatane,, Te Puke and Tauranga, upon Avhicii to operate at their oavii discretion.

Support and Co-operation. A further motion moved by Mr B. S. Barry, was to the effect that the committee, assures the Auckland council of its whole-hearted support and co-operation in all efforts calculated to be in the interests patriotic endeavour.