PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 30, 18 March 1942, Page 5

PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES

EDGECUMBE COMMITTEE C,\NYASSERS APPOINTED At the last meeting of the Edgeeunihe Patriotic Committee, the possibility of holding another Patriotic Gala Day was discussed and in view of petrol restrictions it was decided to postpone the function sine die. Mr Dudley Silence's resignation owing to ill-health was aceepled with regret. The committee joined with the chair (Mr 1. B. Gow) in wishing Mi' Spence a speedy recovery to good liealth. The method of collecting the district's share of the Appeal for the current year Avas fully discussed ami it was decided that a canvass of the district should be made forthwith. The areas and canvassers were detailed as follows: —- Gow's Road: Mr I. B. Gow. Otakiri Road: Messrs I. Black and S. Marx. Railway Road and Awaiti Road: Mr D. Radcliffe, Awaroa Block: Messrs MeCraeken and A. Thomson. ToAvnship-: Messrs Bell and Xeilsen. River Road: Mr F. Patience. Residents are urged to assist canvassers by donations cf cash and/or stock to the limit their circumstances permit. It is anticipated that the very line effort of the Taneatua district will be emulated. This is only the second appeal made and it

is felt that in view of the seriousness of the Avar situation, every resident worthy of the title of "Patriot" —and Avhoi Avould not be?—avill giA'e quickly and generously. The folloAving data Avill be of interest: Quota for the Edgccumbe district £1205 6s 3d; surplus from last year's appeal for Avliich credit was alloAved £466 15s 9d. Balance required for 1942 £738 10s 6d. There are some Avithin our district unfortunately Avho do not help us in our efforts—more unfortunately still they do not ahvays remain passively unhelpful, but by their remarks and their spreading of illfounded rumours they do actively retard the good Avork of others. Let (t be said then that patriotic funds have not bought a single bag of cement for Cabinet Ministers' airraid shelters but they h.avc- provided comforts for our boys OA'erseas. The funds raised arc administered by "The National Patriotic Fund Board," "The National Advisory Council" and eleven ProA'incial Councils, and none of these is subjected to GoA-ernment control. The personnel of these bodies discloses diA*ergence of political A'iews as complete as that of any cross-section of the community. The last-mentioned Provincial Councils contain representatives of cA'cry inter-zone group, our own being Mr J. L. Burnett. These Provincial Councils have full control of the collecting and expenditure of money for patriotic purposes within their own areas. For the further enlightenment of our subversive elements let us point out that this district, i.e.. Whakatae Inter-xene Are;-.. ha>, during the year ended 30th September last, dispatched 721 gift parcels to the boys OA'erseas; if has sent 1108 knitted articles. It has, besides, assisted in providing those funds Avhich are Used to purchase parcels for Pris(Conlinued in noxt column)

oners of War and similarly has assisted in maintaining Y.M.C.A., Church Arm}', Catholic and Salvation Army huts and their social amenities at all military camps in New Zealand and overseas. In addition to this our money has helped to swell a general reserve in the Provincial Account which is determined, after ordinary commitments liavc been met, b^ T the vote of our own delegates. In the ease of tho Auckland Province this amounts to approximately £150,000 set aside for "Distress and Rehabilitation." It is not to be expected that the ftvenues. of expenditure will coincide completely with the wish of all individuals Avithin the community but this Ave do claim that AA'here resources are pooled and then administered by collective desire AA*e give effect as nearly as is possible to the wish of the individual. Each one of us is entitled to feel that his particular money has beer: deA'Oted to his particular cause. Let this present effort be a good one. For such causes as these, i! can hardly be said that we have given at all unless, in the giving, there has been some sacrifice. Caledonian Open Night A further dance promoted by the Caledonian Social Committee takes place in the Caledonian Hall, King Street, on Friday evening next. PaIrons can lie assured of a good time :md a splendid dance programme. Ohcpe Red Cress Members of Ihe Ohope Red Cross eemmiitee and all others interested ••ire reminded that the annual general meeting takes pJa::c in the Captain's Cabin Hall on Tuesday next March 24th at 2 p.m.