AWAKE NEW ZEALAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 68, 22 June 1942, Page 5

AWAKE NEW ZEALAND

iOCAL COMMITTEE MEETS NEW GRANT TOTALS £110 A further meeting of the Whalt at an e Committee of the Awake ..New Zealand' campaign took place last Friday evening, when :in the absence of the chairman Mr L. Buddie) Mr L. Littlejohn. ;presided. The treasurer, Mr C. F. Thomas, "reported that a total of £208 8s fid had been collected though there was still about £15 to come from persons, who had signified their intention to help. Mr Alex McLean said he would like to see the money spent as •quickly as possible on immediate .needs of the Home Guard. ' E ~* The recently completed ambulance trailer of the Battalion was discussed. members expressing the hope that Rangitaiki would take steps to 'construct a similar vehicle. The meeting decided to vote the sum of £140 to be divided equally 'bShfien both Battalions, the money ,tJRe made available as material and » " equipment Avas purchased. Evacuation Question In view of the fact that the problem of evacuation Avas raised by the committee at its last meeting and taken up Avith the County and the Borough E.P.S. this question Avas also given considerable prominence. Speakers claimed that there Avas • apparently a divergence of opinion .between the Army and CiAil Authorities and that until the issue Avas •cleared, confusion must result. It Avas decided therefore to Avrite the Ministry of National Service ■direct, seeking an official ruling on the question AA'hich could be given local currency and thus make for a permanent understanding in the matter. Home Guard Ammunition The statement that certain Home 'Guard units had received 50 rounds of ammuntion Avas also brought up for discussion Avliile headquarters fonvarded details of a process for waterproofing ground sheets as supplied by the movements chemist. Copies Avere handed each Home Guard liason officer present. A long letter from the GoA r ern-i ment, refuting the A.N.Z.C. allegation that the radio Avas not utilised to the fulles extent for Avar propaganda, Avas read by the secretary. The statement AA*as very complete and the impression of the meeting Avas that few people realised to the fullest extent for war ics and propaganda which. Avas served ov'er the air. The chairman stated that he thought the Government had given v-a fairly complete ansAVcr to the com- * mittee's criticism and that he himself had not realised the comprehensive coverage made toy all stations. No Political Bias A copy of a telegram, forwarded by headquarters to both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, urging that a coalition of forces should be up to govern the country and stating that the people demanded the best leadership possible under the existing state of . emergency, came in for considerable •criticism. Speakers Avere emphatic that the "whole ol the actiA'ities of the moA rement must be absolutely AAitliout hint of political leanings of any description. ■* - It Avas decided to AA r rite the central executive pointing out that the Whakatane committee considered the raes to the Prime Minister savour eft of having a distinct political bias-of Avhich the committee disapproved and that it desired to compjetely disassociate itself Avitli anything of this nature in future as it considered such terms Avould only serA r e'to impede the progress of the organisation which Avas operating me an emergency moA*ement pledged to one objective. Still a Need Mr AndreAv McLean pointed out yiat in his opinion the position as far as the need for the Awake Ncav Zealand campaign was concerned, had shifted -considetbly from the time of the movements inception. The* Government and the authorities generally appeared to be more awake thax\ previously. Nevertheless there AA r as, in his opinion, still a urgent ' need for the organisations activities. It Avas a problem at times to know hethar the Army or the Government Avas running New Zealand. The; committee decided that apart from the actual raising of funds ■which will be continued with, that

there Avas a moral duty to perforin and it Avas therefore a 7 cry necessary to continue to operate in collaboration Avith the Home Guard as in the past. It Avas resolved to send a letter of congratulation and encouragement to the newly formed Opotiki branch, offering co-operation and active support.