AN APPEAL FOR UNITY

Southland Times, Issue 24834, 28 August 1942, Page 5

AN APPEAL FOR UNITY

Patriotic Activities

An appeal for unity in the patriotic effort was made by Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, in the course of an address in the Victoria Concert Chambers last night. “We should forget our little local troubles and work together for the good of our men in the fighting forces,” Mr Hayden added. “The National Patriotic Fund Board has made mistakes, and it may make mistakes again, but it is trying, to do its job to the best of its ability. The work cannot be done by small local committees. Just as the war can be won only by a united effort, so patriotic work also demands a united effort.” The Mayor, Mr A. Wachner, presided and with him on the platform were members of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council and representatives of the expending agents of the Patriotic Fund such as the Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army. There were about 100 persons in the hall. The Mayor tendered a welcome to Mr Hayden, who, he said, was visiting Southland at the invitation of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council. The purpose of the meeting was to explain the wide scope of the work of the Patriotic Fund. Mr Hayden said that the only purposes behind the regulations governing the Patriotic Fund were to see that the money subscribed was used in the right way and that the soldiers were cared for. The Y.M.C.A., the Salvation Army, the Church Army, the Catholic Church War Administration Board and the Joint Council of thte Order of St. John and the’Red Cross Society were expending agents for the National Patriotic Fund Board. The Y.M.C.A., the Salvation Army, the Church Army and the Catholic Board, were doing wonderful work for the soldiers in the camps in New Zealand. The men in some of the camps would have a very thin time were it not for the institutes run by these bodies. The Y.M.C.A. and Church Army were also looking after the interests of the soldiers overseas. CLUBS OVERSEAS The New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo had become famous. This club was not run by the Patriotic Fund Board, but the board guaranteed its finances and also forwarded to the club a large quantity of goods every month. The club would have a difficult time if it were not for the support of the Patriotic Fund. Another New Zealand club supported by the. fund was that at Halifax, Canada. They had received many letters of thanks from airmen who had visited this club. Mr Hayden also dealt with other work of the Patriotic Board overseas, and described its wide ramifications from the forward areas to the base. He mentioned that the board provided a New Testament for every Protestant soldier, a copy of the Psalms for every Jewish soldier and a prayer book for every Catholic soldier. SICK AND WOUNDED Dealing with the sick and wounded, Mr Hayden said that the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society had been appointed the expending agent. These bodies were still carrying on their peace-time activities and were entitled to collect money for those activities just as the Y.M.C.A. collected money for its peacetime activities; but all the money for the war work of the joint council was provided from the Patriotic Fund. The joint council also looked after the prisoners of war. Every week 6000 parcels were packed for prisoners of war. It did not follow that all the parcels sent from New Zealand were received by New Zealand prisoners of war. All parcels for prisoners of war from Empire countries went into a common pool and a New Zealand prisoner might receive an Australian parcel one week, a Canadian parcel the next, and a New Zealand parcel in the third week. Mr Hayden said he was satisfied that 99 per cent, of the men with the forces received parcels. The odd man who happened to be away from his unit might miss. WOMEN’S PATRIOTIC WORK Mrs Stanley Brown gave some facts about the patriotic work of the women of Southland. She said that the women worked harmoniously together and most of those who took part in the work at the beginning of the war were still working. “Can you say the same about your giving?” Mrs Brown added. “I think we should all ask ourselves how we are going to face our boys when they come back if we have not helped to the utmost of our ability to make life easier for them” Major Martin Brown, of the Salvation Army, paid a tribute to the work done by the Patriotic Fund Board. Mr W. F. Bisset, representing the Y.M.C.A., Mr W. J. A. McGregor, and Mr W. F. Sturman, honorary secretaiy of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council, also spoke. Votes of thanks were passed to Mr Hayden for his address and to the Mayor for presiding.