PATRIOTIC EFFORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 8, 26 January 1942, Page 5

PATRIOTIC EFFORT

EXPENDING AGENTS

POSITION EXPLAINED

A statement issued by the National Patriotic Fund Board, Wellington, says that it again appears necessary to point out that the war work of the Y.M.G.A., Church Army, Salvation Army, Navy League War Council, Catholic War Services

Fund Board, Air Force Relations and other welfare organisations associated with the New Zealand Forces is linanced from the patriotic funds. "This point seems either t*o be overlooked by some members of the Forces, or, even at this stage, is unknown to them,''' conti;nu : ps the statement. "The: machinery of the patriotic organisation, specifically provides for the appointment, of expending agents of the Patriotic Fund Board, and that is precisely the role being carried out by the various welfare organisations. Working in conjunction with the Board in looking after the welfare of the men. are the following: Y.M.C.A., Church of England Military Affairs Commit-

tee,. Catholic War Services Fund Board, and Salvation Army, for the lighting services generally, Air Force Relations for the Air Force supplementing the work of the Y.M.C.A. in Air Force Camps, Navy League War Council for the Navy and deep sea merchantmen, and the Joint Council of the Order og St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society for sick anil wounded and prisoners of Avar. In addition the Overseas Seamen's Gift- Committee attends to the comforts for merchant seamen. Although the names or badges of these organisations are prominently identified with the war work being done, that "work —and tthis is what is not yet understood by quite a number of people apparently —is financed from patriotic funds. The board generously recognises and appreciates the splendid service being given by these organisations and echoes the sentiments expressed in this regard-by the members of tflie forces, but those who have written praising these bodies and who have inferred that the Patriotic Fund Board is leaving everything to them and that the troops are not getting the benefit of he patriotic funds obviously are unaware of the true fa-cts.

The ■Board, finances from the money subscribed by the New Zealand public the whole of the war work of these bodies whose service for the New Zealand soldiers, sailors and airmen is given 011 the Board's behalf. That is the position plainly and in a nutshell. It is quite incorrect, therefore, for any soldier overseas to write home, as some have done, and say because he sees the Y.M.C.A. or Church Army sign prominently displayed that the troops are not getting anything from the patriotic funds."

Many Services The Board's statement also says that some men are inclined to measure the success or failure of the patriotic effort by the number of unaddressed gift parcels they receive. "The unaddressed gift parcel scheme," the statement adds, "is but a small section of the patriotic activities. The recreational huts in NeAv Zealand and overseas and operated by Avelfare organisations have been erected and furnished and are maintained from the patriotic funds. Financial backing was given for the establishment of the highly successful and popular New Zealand Forces Clu,bs in London and Cairo, and club premises for men on leave were built for Nbav Zealand troops stationed elsewhere overseas. The cost of equipment for the IviAvi Concert Party in the Middle East and for the bands Avith the Second N.Z.E.L. Avas also* met from the patriotic funds. Mobile units to serve the troops in the' forward areas and an ice cream plant and specially refrigerated van haA r e been provided, libraries liaA'e been established, big stocks of woollen goods have been sent forward for issue Avhen necessary and supplies of cigarettes and tobacco have been shipped at intervals for free distribution. These do not nearly exhaust the Board's activities. "Another point sometimes lost sight of is that it is not only the men in the Middle East and those in Ncav Zealand who have to be provided for, but also all New Zealanders Avho are serving overseas. They are widely scattered and are no small family. It is not claimed that evervthing works out 100 per cent as planned, that* is not practicable in AA'ar time. The Board's objective (Continued in next column)