Patriotic Funds

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 260, 1 August 1942, Page 6

Patriotic Funds

Sir,—At a recent meeting of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Committee publicity was given to a matter which definitely should have been discussed in committee. The matter I wish to refer to was the complaint from a soldier overseas and his advising people mot to subscribe to patriotic funds, owing to what was ‘ going on. Statements such as these Sir, coming as they do at the present juncture, encourage complacency and make the .fight stiffer for those stalwarts who today in their honorary capacities, are fighting hard to fill their 1&42 quota so that our lads in khaki may get something extra in the way of comforts, etc. Certainly complaints should 'be investigated but those In administrative positions know full well that the majority of complaints that have come to hand, have proved groundless. Probably such is the case in the present instance, but in the meantime much harm has been done. It cannot be impressed too fully on the “critical railsitter” that the administration. of the fund is in nonpolitical hands and that anyone with complaints has his local committees who are only too willing to investigate. In conclusion, Sir, I consider that if the Wellington committee had been loss critical of their own business affairs, and had given more prominence to how much has been, done with the subscribed funds and 1 of the thousands of letters of appreciation received from recipients of parcels, etc., it would have given the present appeal a well-de-served boost.—l am, etc., L. K. COUPER. Kaitieke, July 29. Married Teachers & Military Service Sir,—-Mr. L. McKenzie, speaking at a meeting of the Wellington Colleges Board of Governors, stated that in England no married teacher can be called up for military service. Is it necessary for our Government to go so far beyond what is considered expedient in England ? The training of teachers is expensive to the State and takes years to complete. Furthermore, a man must have a vocation in order to succeed in this onerous profession. It seems an extreme measure to contemplate sending highly-trained teachers, many with families dependent upon them, overseas. Apart from the wastage of war, many of these men may, like our scientists, find wider opportunities opening before them, and be permanently lost to New Zealand. Many parents like, myself must have been profoundly disturbed by the utterances of Mr. Martyn Renner regarding tlie effect of our present policy upon tlie rising generation. —I am, etc., PARENT. Wellington, July 31.