PATRIOTIC FUND COLLECTION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3265, 19 May 1943, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUND COLLECTION

(To The Editor)

Sir, —If I was responsible for starting this- correspondence on the above subject, I feel it incumbent on me — with your permission—to refute the statement in the letter of Mr W. P. Thompson, Opito Bay, if only in fairness to the other members of the former Kuaotunu Sub-Patriotic Committee.

I thought I had made it abundantly clear that our committee was a comparative success, and did not, as Mr Thompson says, fail. In fact, it was second only to one in the county, thanks to those who gave far more than their allotted share, even without having to be “‘bludgeoned.” I emphatically disassociate myself from Mr Thompson’s implication that I did not approve of the administration of the Patriotic Fund. I and my committee unanimously approved of the administration in general, and repeatedly stressed the need of it, but just could not continue to accept from the willing when we had no means of collecting from the unwilling ones. Presuming that by “my friend” Mr Thompson means the other members of the committee, I might mention that they were all returned soldiers of the last war.

Mr Thompson’s use of the word “bludgeoned” is, I can only say, an extravagant misuse of the word. The procedure adopted was that a brief note couched in the most polite terms was sent to all those who failed, to respond to the general appeal. His statement about the knitting is also quite contrary to fact, all the wool was—thanks to the ladies of the district—knitted and returned to the inter-zone secretary..—l am, etc., THOS. E. SIMPSON, Kuaotunu.