PATRIOTIC WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20071, 18 October 1939, Page 4

PATRIOTIC WORK

SHOW CATERING PLAN RED CROSS APPROVAL PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT “DEEP APPRECIATION" Until the position with regard to the organisation of patriotic work in the district is cleared up by a meeting of the Provincial Centennial Council, uncertainty is likely to persist in the public mind as to the avenues through which patriotic sentiment may safely be manifested. A situation which arose last evening, following the publication of a warning on the part of the Red Cross Society against patronage of unauthorised collectors, illustrates the necessity for an official statement on the part of the Centennial Council. It is well known throughout the district that the Poverty Bay Women’s Central Representative Committee has undertaken to organise the catering at the annual A. and P. Show in November, and that the proceeds of that effort are to be devoted to work on behalf of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. The society itself has given approval to the work, and the committee has the tacit approval also of all public men connected with the superintendence of patriotic funds. During the past week the members of the representative committee have engaged in a canvass of the different affiliated women’s organisations, with a view to securing contributions of catering requirements. Entirely Commendable Efforts Heading members of the committee were astonished to receive from several sources last evening inquiries' as to whether the Red Cross warning against unauthorised collections was directed at the committee’s efforts. Such a situation was, of course, completely unforeseen by the Red Cross executive, which was concerned with the possibility of the society’s name being used in a manner which might bring discredit upon it, and not with the entirely commendable efforts of the Poverty Bay Women’s Central Representative Committee. In order to remove any possibility of misunderstanding, Dr. A. L. Singer, president of the Gisborne branch of the R'ed Cross Society, to-day requested the publication of the following statement: — “The Gisborne executive of the New Zealand Red Cross Society has been advised that the publication of a warning against support of unauthorised collectors on behalf of the society has been misread, as applying to the work of the Poverty' Bay Women’s Central Representation Committee. “This organisation is preparing to cater for the public at the annual A. and P. Show, and is engaged in collecting contributions for that purpose, the object being that the Red Cross Society should benefit by the proceeds. “The Gisborne branch of the society appreciates deeply the goodwill and patriotic spirit of this committee, and is anxious that there should be no misunderstanding on the part of the public in regard to the Show effort. It is therefore desirable that members of the public should understand that the warning had no connection whatever with the work of the Poverty Bay Women’s Representation Committee, which has the warmest approval of the Red Cross executive.”