PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 242, 10 September 1940, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

PROVIDING OF PARCELS

CONDITIONS EXPLAINED

Financial conditions and the provision of parcels for the troops were discussed when a meeting of the Patriotic Committee was held in Palmerston North yesterday. Those present were : The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford), in the chair, Messrs C. V Day, K. A. Henderson, J. C. Young, (Jr. Tremaine, Mesdames A. E. Mansford,- G- C. Petersen and S. Orr. The chairman said that the committee had been formed as a result of rules adopted by the Patriotic Zone Committee, so as to control patriotic activities in the city. Various organisations had been asked to send representatives to the committee. It would endeavour to avoid duplication of appeals and to see that they did not follow too closely on each other. The appointment of Mr Day as secretary was confirmed. The chairman paid a tribute to Mr Day, who lie said had offered his services in an' honorary capacity. He would fill the position admirably and had already done a great deal of work. Mr Henderson said that it would be wise if the committee bad control over all apjieals made. Mr Young said this was necessary for two reasons, firstly,, for the sake of the funds, because a maximum effort was necessary each time; and, secondly, for the sake of the public. One did not want to outbid his welcome.

Tlie Mayor said he did not think anything more could be done about jioiicv in the meantime. They would have to be guided by circumstances as they arose. The Mayor explained a rule which stated that the various organisations could not spend more than £1 without tlie consent of the committee. He also referred to recent discussions which had arisen on Jhe provision of parcels for soldiers and the question as to where the money from the patriotic shop went to. Three lots of parcels had already gone forward, he said, and no city or borough had called on the provincial committee to provide the parcels. Palmerston North had sent £1348 to the provincial funds, which was no more than that for several other centres. If Palmerston North had contributed to a larger extent to the funds there might be some justification in saying that the cost of parcels should come from the provincial funds. Other zones wore raising money independently for parcels As the Kairanga County could not find its quota of parcels, the city would lend it assistance in getting them. Mrs Mansford said she had offered, if the Kairanga County could not find the parcels, to hold a street day to raise the money for tlie parcels. The .trouble was that there was no organisation in the Kairanga County. EXPENDITURE OF MONEY.

The Mayor commented that confusion appeared to have arisen over money from ■ the patriotic shop. This ■ money went to the AA’ellington Provincial Patriotic Fund. The fund was devoted among other tilings to looking after soldiers in camp. For instance, £6OO had been spent on football jerseys for the various camps. The money was spent on men at Trentliam, Levin, Ohakea and Rongotai, and on the Maori Battalion when it was here. Money was being spent all the time on comforts for the men going overseas. Some of it was spent on furnishing a club in AA’cllington. All moneys raised for parcels were first paid into the Provincial Patriotic Fund and redrawn out through the imprest account in Palmerston North, The better wav would be to get a statement from AVellington so that it could' be published in the Press and show the public bow the money was being spent.

Mr Young moved that all the money collected be paid into a central fund and that all the expenditure, including that for parcels, should be drawn from that fund. This was seconded bv Mr Henderson.

•A discussion ensued on the question whether it would result in tile discouraging of initiative of the women working in the shop if this were carried into effect. Mrs Mansford held that this would be so, and said that the women working for the shop were not those who were making complaints. The chairman said that if a definite object to which the money should be devoted were named month by month when the money was handed over all the difficulties would be overcome.

Mr Young said that his motion was designed to allow a broad view to be taken of the collection of money. The motion, on being put to the meeting, was lost, only, the mover and seconder voting for it. The opinion was expressed that October might be too early a period in which to make the proposed rehabilitation fund appeal, but uo action was taken in t'he meantime. It was decided to reply thanking the AA’anganui interhouse girls’ organisation for an offer to give a marching display in Palmerston North and to advise that it was considered that the present time was not opportune for such a display. An offer was received from an Otaki Maori party to give a concert in Palmerston North, and from a band organisation at Fort Dorset to give an entertainment here, and it was decided to reply on similar lines.