PATRIOTIC QUOTA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 57, 16 March 1945, Page 5

PATRIOTIC QUOTA

BOROUGH MEN'S COMMITTEE

£19(35 TO BE RAISED

"We've met tliis evening for the purpose of discovering ways and means of raising- our quota for 1945," said Mr W. Chairman of the Borough Men's Patriotic Committee last Tuesday evening" when the initial meeting for the New Year took place. Mr Sullivan said that last year the committee had been successful in finding its lull levy of £1514. This year the town had been asked to find £19(>r> which though substantially greater was not beyond the means of Whakatane. He suggested that the method of street canvassing should be continued as it had proven a great, success. He took the opportunity of thanking all canvassers for their services during the year. With regard to the Ladies' Committee, he added that they had also assisted handsomely towards the rais., ing of the levy and he would like to pay a tribute to them for their unfailing work in this respect. He hoped that the ladies could once again be prevailed upon to assist.

Mr B. S. Barry said it might as<t sist the meeting to learn something of the new arrangement which had been made with regard to the district. Since last annual meeting, Whakatane had succeded together with the Rotorua, Matamata and Opotiki zones in breaking away from Auckland and forming a separate Provincial group ol' their own. The new set up had proved most successful. Several meetings had been held and they were a very happy family indeed. The greatest achievement lay in the fact that all monies 'Collected for welfare purposes could be now spent within the zones concerned. The zones had complete control of these monies and could administer them as they thought fit. At the Whakatane Zone meeting it had been decided to set up a welfare fund of Al-* ready there was £5000 in hand as a refund from Auckland. This money was not to be confused with rehabilitation. It would be devoted towards assisting men between demobilisation and and further would be reserved for those who might need assistance in later years, as a result of their war service. The Borough and County quota this year was £9000 of which £3000 would be set aside for the Welfare Fund. On the chairman's motion the meeting decided to accept, its quota of £1965 and to apply the accepted system of a house to house canvass from March to October. A circular to householders will be sent out in advance of the lirst canvass while a list of collectors will also be published as an official notification to subscribers. It was decided further that a full list of subscribers and their donations be published in the Beacon as in past years.

The question of appointing new canvassers occupied the meeting for some time i} though a pleasing feature was the fact that 90 per cent, of those who carried out this work

last year were once again prepared to offer their services.

Prospects from Ohope were dis■civssedj the secretary Mr G Ad, stating that though in the past the people of the settlement had done excellent 'work last year it had been found impossible to find canvassers.

The meeting appointed the Chairman and the Secretary to visit Ohope in the near future for the purpose of contacting residents and setting up if possible an interested group.

Mr D. V. Saunders said that steps would be taken to get the current lists out as quickly as possible so that the first canvass may be made before Easter.