PATRIOTIC AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 147, 15 April 1940, Page 5

PATRIOTIC AFFAIRS

CONTROL OF COLLECTIONS ADDRESS BY PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE MATTERS IN WHAKATANE COUNTY "We are going away knowing that Whakatane will become one of the most enthusiastic districts in the province," said Mr L. W. Goldstein, Deputy Chairman of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council at the conclusion of the public meeting held' in the County Chambers on Friday night, and addressed, in addition to Mr Goldstein, by Messrs K. L. Usmar, secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, Mr G. A. 'secretary of the National Patriotic Council, and A. Ely, of • Auckland. There was only* a small attendance, hardly representative of the county, but the' inclement weather, and, possibly, the fact that it was a late shopping night in the town, kept people away. Mr J* L. Burnett, acting-Chair-man of the Whakatane County Coun •cil, Avas in the chair. In introducing Mr Goldstein, Mr Burnett said he had to apologise for the delay since the November meeting but he was convinced that after "/hearing the speakers there woukl Ibe no difficulty in getting the local organisation going. Sir Ernest Davis's Absence. "I have to apologise for the absence of His Worship the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, who is -also Chairman of the Provincial "Council," said Mr Goldstein, "ant? to intimate to you his desire to cooperate to the fullest extent."' "We have come to Whakatane to 'confer on problems in the district and to. clarify any confusion on the uperation of regulations," continued IMr Goldstein. "These regulations may'have seemed rather restrictive. "But are they so drastic? Must not the principle appeal to those assisting in this worthy cause?

Regulations not Restrictive. "We in Auckland, at first were ot -the opinion that they were restrictive and likely' to stultify individual •effort. We went into them, analysed them, and came to the conclusion that they were not so difficult to administer. So we in Auckland -embarked on the task of administering them in .the proper manne' . Thus came into existence the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, -with the Zones, committees and subcommittees." Mr Goldstein said that there had been a misunderstanding but he had found that most of the criticism ]had disappeared. Now he considered that, far from restricting effort, 'they had the effect of preventing unnecessary overlapping. "After all said the speaker, "must not our aim 'be to secure protection for the two •parties concerned —that is, the contributor on the one hand and ■recipient on the other. The expei i--ences of the last war indicated that .some such organisation as envisaged "by the regulations was absolutely necessary. - Due regard has been paid to past experience." Mr Goldstein then indicated that after Messrs Usmar, Hacken and Ely "had spoken questions would be welcomed and discussed.

Cause of Apathy. Mr G. A. Hacken, secretary of the National Patriotic Council, then explained the relationship between the National and Provincial Councils. Discussing regulations, he said \hat a lot of the apathy shown was •due not so much to regulations as to the psychology of the war. In 1914 defeat seemed probable on the 'Western Front and patriotism was | ; roused. At the present stage, the Army was practically still and few -casualties had resulted. Relative to the functions of the National Council, the National Patriotic Funds Board and the Provin"Wcial Councils, Mr Hacken said that the former was an advisory body -with no executive power. It advised the Provincial Councils and also the National Funds Board. The tatter was responsible for the raising and expending of patriotic funds fiom the national point of view. "The Government, as a Government, has no say in the administration of these funds," said Mr Hacken who added that both the National •Council and the National Funds Board were corporate bodies.

Gifts for the Troops. "As the Provincial body we have complete control of the raising and expending of funds," said Mr K. LUsmar, secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council. At the present time we have approximately £12,000 and about £-4,000 has been spent."' In outlining some of the expenditure, Mr Usmar said that very shortly the 6,700 men of the Ist Echelon would receive gift parcels. Two thousand live hundred of these parcels would be from Auckland. Mv Usmar added that to creatc an ultimate degree of confidence throughout the province. the Provincial Council has had nothing to do with the Auckland Metropolitan Council.

Mr Usmar observed that it occurred to him that there could be no distinction in Whakatane between Borough and County; they must unite in the common good. Question Time. At this stage the meeting became open and several questions were asked. In replying to a question by Mrs H. D. Wilson,, of Matata, Mr Goldstein said that the fact of a person being engaged in different, capacities, as Red C.ioss Society and Women's Institute, did not preclude them from serving on a patriotic sub-committee. "Red Cross members, can, and should, belong to the Patriotic Society," said Mr Goldstein. A question desiring a ruling on the possibilities of working only for the Matatua members of the Maori Battalion was pub and drew the reply that there was no distinction between Maori and Paltcha soldic in camp—they were all treated the same. Mrs Wylde, of Waimana, asked how much of the monies collected i was used for administrative and travelling expenses. Mrs Wylde spoke of £50 allowed Tauranga headquarters for expenses. In reply, Mr Usmar detailed expenditure at Tauranga and said that the money was made available for expenses. The money was always refunded by the Auckland Council. The travelling expenses concerned visits by the Chairman of Zone G Committee, Mr L. R. Wilkinson, of Tauranga, to Auckland for Provincial Council meetings.