PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 6

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE A meeting of the provincial executive of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council, held yesterday afternoon, was presided over by the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen). FINANCE. , Mr Edgar Hazlett submitted the report of the Finance Committee, which showed accounts for payment totalling £BB3 Os 2d. GRANTS TO CAMPS. When the matter of applications from the Air Force station and the Wingatui camp came before the council Mr F. W. Mitchell said that a great deal of material had already been provided for Burnham and had since been taken overseas. He feared that overlapping could occur, and thought that the question should be seriously considered. Sir Percy Sargood expressed the opinion that it was time they set up a sub-committee, including co-opted members, to act as a cohesive authority, through which all requests and appeals should come before the council. He gave notice of motion that such a subcommittee be set up, and that all matters pertaining to the obligations of the council, military or through agencies, be referred to this sub-committee. PUBLIC APPEAL. Mr W. Kindley, reporting on behalf of the Appeals Committee, said that during the progress of the queen carnival the other methods of appeal would be in abeyance. PRIZE DWELLING. Air W. M‘Dowell Smith, convener of the Freehold Property Committee, reported that the plans and specifications in connection with the prize residence were now complete. The committee had not made quite the progress otherwise that it had anticipated, but the work would be proceeded with without further delay. PUBLICITY. Mr H. L. Gibson submitted the report of the Publicity Committee, which was of a formal nature. Mr F. W. Mitchell suggested that the mayor might communicate with Mr F. Milner, C.M.G. (rector of the Waitaki Boys’ High School), inviting him to come to. Dunedin and address a public meeting. Some such means, said Mr Mitchell, was desirable in order to stimulate' public interest in patriotic questions' and in the needs of the moment geherally. The suggestion yas agreed to. 1 QUEEN CARNIVAL. Mr A. Barnett, on behalf of the Oueen Carnival Committee, reported that all programmes up to November 2 had been arranged, and things were going along very sweetly. A campaign had been started for straight-out contributions, and this was proving a success. On the evbning of Friday, October 2, said Mr Barnett, there would be a special procession, in which all sections of the community would partici'pate. This was expected to be the nrightest and best procession ever held in Dunedin". The Mayor remarked that the queen carnival appeared to be developing very satisfactorily. In the country districts particularly the carnival spirit was being adopted, and there was no doubt the city would do equally well. The Mayor mentioned that permission had been given to one of the queen committees to use the Octagon for the purpose of holding a fair. There might be some stir over the stoppage of the trams at that point on the occasion, but it would serve to make the people realise that something was being done for their assistance. The council had taken the eeurso it had in order to show its willingness to heartily co-operate with the carnival effort. Sir Percy Sargood remarked that the City Council was to be commended for its action. The Queen Carnival Committee’s report was- adopted! LONDON DISTRESS FUND. The secretary of the National Fund Board (Mr G. A. Hayden) wrote intimating Otago’s proportion of the London distress appeal as £2,325. The Mayor said that, roughly speaking, the amount required would be £25,000 after the National Trust Board had paid £75,000, Otago’s £2,328 would bo paid out of the funds in hand for general purposes, and would be a legitimate charge thereon. It was.agreed to pay the amount forthwith.' “ AN BIPOSSIBLE SUGGESTION.” A letter was road from the South Otago Zone urging that since the first duty of the Empire was to win the war before considering rehabilitation, all possible funds should be forwarded to England for fighting equipment. The Mayor said that the suggestion put forward was impossible. It struck at the very root of their efforts. He thought that too many people possessed unnecessary fears about the question of

rehabilitation, and it could not be emphasised too strongly that the problem was not a post-war one. It was with them already and had to be dealt with. The letter was received. THANKS FOR GIFTS. Letters of thanks for gifts of tobacco and were received from military units stationed at Aldershot, the writers stating that ‘‘ the boys ” warmly welcomed the “smokes.”