MAYOR'S VIEW

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 252, 26 October 1942, Page 4

MAYOR'S VIEW

MEN OVERSEAS COME FIRST. MORE IMPORTANT NEEDS. "Until vastly more important comniitments overseas and in New Zealand are fully met, we have no right to spend further large sums on amenities for servicemen in Auckland and other cities," said the mayor and chairman of the Auckland Patriotic Council, Mr J. A. C. Alluin, following the announcement that the Toc H Servicemen's Club was elosing. "Everyone will agree that proper r^ureational clubs should be provided for servicemen in Auckland," said Mr Allum, "but I place our commitments in the following order of urgency: Parcels for New Zealand prisoners of war, comforts for New Zealand sick and wounded overseas, comforts and amenities for fit New Zealand servicemen overseas, comforts and amenities for servicemen in hospitals, eamps, stations and posts in New Zealand, present and future assistance to returned servicemen, and, iastly, amenities for servicemen * on leave in New Zealand cities and towns. "We in Auckland have not yet made 70 per cent. of this year's Patriotic Fund quota of our obligations to our fighting men overseas. I know that if an apipeal were made for funds to establish a central servicemen's ciub in the city, money would. be forthcoming, but it is my strong view that it would be wrong to make such an appeal uritli all our obligations to our fighting men overseas have been fully met." The mayor said the Toc H organisation, which was doing excellenfc work, hajl asked him repeatedly for help in obtaining larger premises in the heart of the city. It had been shown that this could only be done by using the powers of the State to remove present occupants, after which heavy structural costs and rent would have to be ipaid. Regarding the possibility of erecting a temporary huilding on the area near the bus t°rminai for a central club, the estimated cost he had received was £12,000 to £15,000. y