THE PATRIOTIC SHOP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 243, 11 September 1940, Page 6

THE PATRIOTIC SHOP.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—The report in last nights “Standard." of tno meeting of the i atriotic Committee bristles with anomalies. The tu'st is ttie statement that “various organisations” in the ■■city liave been asked to send representatives to the committee. The list ol those organisations would make interesting reading. Apparently they sent no apologies lor absence, or had they by any chance not been notified of this meeting.'' • The women of Palmerston iNorth are not at the moment asking for statistics, or a rendering of account by the Wellington Patriotic Committee, and the story of the £6OO spent on lootbail jerseys leaves us quite unmoved. The women’s patriotic shop was started as an effort to provide a local fund for the present needs of our soldiers. It is definitely stated by the Mayor that all monies raised do actually go to Wellington. Now, if this shop for some obscure reason cannot be used for its original purposes, can we not have another shop and see to it that the proceeds are used for local requirements f • ■ ■ .' The shop lias been loyally supported—not by a small committee but by the women of the whole district. Every club and organisation in town and rural area has taken its share of the work and the whole distinct has contributed to its success. The questionsare not being asked in inverse proportion to the work done by the questioner, as tho Mayoress unfairly suggested. We work hard and we pay up, and are willing to go on working and paying but we want a voice in the spending of the monies; wo want a co-ordinated effort anil a clear cut issue.—Yours, etc.. ANN KATHLEEN JACQUES. Palmerston North, 11/9/40.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —T cannot believe that the proceedings of the Patriotic Committee as reported in last night’s “Standard” constitute a reply to my queries. Since, however, there lias been no other reply I must take it- that all lias been said that is available for publication. After reading three times the somewhat rambling remarks of all concerned, the gist of it appears to be that the Mayor thinks we can quite well afford to raise privately for parcels what was originally intended to come from the shop funds. That is begging the question. Wo do not feel ungenerously about the matter, but there is something very humiliating about these endless small raffles, etc., which are going on. May I suggest as a solution that, say, 25 per cent of all income from the patriotic shop lie handed over weekly to a local central fund, which, I take it, is Mr Young’s proposal ? . If other zones are raising money privately for parcels, then it is because no one has had the courage to stand up and say what they think, or perhaps because their patriotic shops do not function every day in the week. I would like to point out, Mr Editor, a misprint in my last letter of “man” for “maw.” “Greedy official maw” was the phrase.—Yours, etc.,

SOLDIER’S WIFE. Palmerston North, 11-9-40.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Having read a report of a meeting of the Palmerston North Patriotic Committee in vour paper to-night, may I be permitted through- your columns to ask one or two questions and also comment on remarks made by members of the committee? Questions I wish to ask are as follow: (1) “Was the Patriotic Committee formed as tho result of a public meeting of citizens of Palmerston North? (2) How many organisations were asked to send representatives to this committee? (3) How many organisations serit representatives to this committee? (4) Do the citizens of Palmerston North feel that eight people are a sufficiently large number to say how the patriotic lunds subscribed to by all sections of the community shall be apportioned? (5) Can you tell me. Mr Editor, is it not a fact that other towns and cities have a local patriotic fund to draw upon, as well as the provincial fund which goes to headquarters in Wellington? May I mention that I have been 'authoritatively informed that, at the first meeting of women held, the then appointed secretary (Mrs It. Davis) was instructed to write to "Wellington to get permission for the Mayoress’s Patriotic Committee to conduct a shop for the purpose of raising money to be used for the sole purpose of enabling the women’s committee to purchase wool for knitting and comforts for the soldiers? The- Mayor explained that Palmerston /North had sent £1348 to the provincial funds. We know that £IOOO or more of that money was sent as proceeds From the women’s patriotic shop. Why leave it to the women to raise the provincial funds ? Every woman in tho town is willing and anxious to Help swell the takings from the shop, but is it not only reasonable to expect that when money is needed the women’s own appointed .committee should be the ones to say how much should be allocated for the different causes being sponsored by the women? The Christmas parcels for the soldiers, more than any other gifts, should' come from all the women in the city and district, and if the shop money is not available for that purpose then I should suggest that another shop be opened lor the express purpose of establishing and maintaining a fund to be used as desired for soldiers’ presents. I think if suck a shop came into being it would have the support and patronage of all women—rich and poor alike—and t'he takings from the corner shop could still go to the provincial patriotic fund.—l am, etc. SOLDIER’S MOTHER. Palmerston North, 10/9/40.