PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3265, 19 May 1943, Page 5

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

WORK OF NATIONAL BOARD ADDRESS BY SECRETARY MISCONCEPTIONS REMOVED Some common misconceptions regarding the raising and expenditure of funds for patriotic purposes were removed by Mr G. A. Hayden, secre-tary-treasurer’ to the National Patriotic Fund Boqrd, when he addressed a public meeting in the Borough Council Chambers on Monday evening. Mr Hayden was accompanied by his private secretary, 'Mrs Groom. Among those present were the chairman and hon. secretary of the Paeroa Patriotic Committee, Messrs Edwin- Edwards and R.*t. Darley respectively, and Mr A. A. Jenkinson, acting-town clerk of Paeroa and clerk to the Ohinemuri County Council. The Mayor, Mr W. M. Wallnutt, who presided, said he was sorry that the attendance was not larger, but it nevertheless- gave him pleasure to welcome Mr Hayden and 'his secretary. There were quite a number of points that had been touched on in the past that he was sure would be explained in a satisfactory manner byMr Hayden. Organisation Explained Referring to his visit to the surface workings of the Martha mine > that afternoon, Mi’ Hayden said Mr Wallnutt, who had shown him round, had said that it was impossible to understand the full magnitude of the activities of the company unless one went underground; and that same remark could b? applied very aptly to the working of the patriotic organisation. Mr Hayden said there were three bodies: The National Patriotic Council, which had no power over moneys raised but merely acted as adviser to the Government; the National Patriotic Fund Board, of which the only Government control was that of audit, and which was representative of all classes in New Zealand; and the Provincial Patriotic Councils. Both the National Council and the Board were independent of each other. During the last war, however, there had been no fewer than 600 separate organisations, and the present system aimed at maximum effectiveness by co-operation. Tasks For The Board The board’s job was to look after the men while they were in camp and oh their return to New Zealand. There were about 260 “huts” —they were really in the nature of clubs- — in the Dominion alone, and the Y.M.C.A., the .Salvation Army, Church Army, Catholic organisation, etc., ail shared in patriotic funds for their work to the extent of about £300,000 a year. The only independent organisation was that known as the Brethren, which was, incidentally, doing very fine work indeed. In addition to financing all these organisations, the board put quite; a lot of comforts on troopships, and many appreciative letters had been received. Clubs had also been established and maintained in London, Cairo „and ■other parts, including Noumea and New Caledonia. ' St. John, and Red Cross So far as the sick and wounded and prisoners of war were concerned, continued Mr Hayden, their- welfare was a task for the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society, to which organisation £271,000 had been given this year. All moneys should come from the general Patriotic Fund. There was, in fact, a statutory law that all activities should be carried out together; and there was no need for either body to collect money independently. A scheme that had given ' wonderful service was the system of sending parcels of tobacco duty-free to other -countries, with the result that gifts eost less than half the' usual retail price. No fewer than 58,000 parcels had already been sent in this way.

Misunderstandings seemed to exist regarding administrative costs, said Mr Hayden. The position was that his own and other salaries and expenses were paid by the Government, and the actual cost of administration so far as the actual funds themselves were concerned was approximately 2s 8d for each £lOO raised, which he did not think anyone would say was excessive. There had also been some criticism of the accumulation of funds, but these were vital for welfare work after the war, and about £750,000 had been set aside for rehabilitation, particularly of men who had undergone the strain of long war-imprisonment, and of service in the Air Force.

After several questions had been asked and answered, Mr Edwin Edwards said many points had been cleared up and Mr Hayden’s address had been very helpful to all. He thoucb’ the board had the confidence

of the people, and the fact that administrative. expenses were only about one-eighth of one por cent, made it clear that the money was not being wasted. He moved a vote of thanks to Mr Hayden for his address and of confidence in the board and the manner in which the funds were being adminis.ered. This was seconded by Mr E. H. McCarthny, president of the Waihi branch of the R.S.A., and carried unanimously. Mr Hayden expressed thanks for the attentive hearing given him and for the resolution carried, and trie meeting then closed. ,