EXPLANATION WANTED

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1940, Page 8

EXPLANATION WANTED

DRIVE FOR £1,000,000 PATRIOTIC FUND EFFORT TARANAKI STANDING OUT Pending the provision of full inforrnation and a clear statement by the National Patriotic Council as to what is being done and what is required, Taranaki is standing out of a national drive, commencing on October 14, for the patriotic councils of New Zealand to' raise the sum of £1,000,000, part of which will go to make up a sum of £100,000 sent by Nevr Zealand for the relief of London. This decision was made by the Taranaki Provincial Patriotic Council, when 27 delegates attended a meeting held at Stratford yesterday under the presidency of Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, Mayor of New Plymouth. In connection with the. provision of £100,000 for the relief of air raid distress at London it was stated that at a meeting of the National Patriotic Council recently it was thought that £10,000 should be sent to London, but the Governor-General, who is national president, was keen that the sum should be £100,000. Finally, it was decided that £75,000 should be taken from the Red Cross fund, and that the other £25,000 should be raised by the provincial councils. Taranaki's share being £1125. ' The subject was broached in a circular from the National Patriotic Council, which stated that after consultation between all provincial councils, a Domin-ion-wide drive for provincial funds should be launched, aided by national Press and radio advertising. The money raised in each province would, of course, stay in the provincial patriotic fund. An advertising campaign as for the sick and wounded appeal would >ost about £3000, which the various provincial councils would have to share, Taranaki s portion of the cost being 4^ per cent. The proposal was that the appeal should commence on October 14 and conclude on "November 25. The matter should be referred back to the national council, considered Mr. F. L. Frost, M.P., for a clear statement of the aims of the appeal and the procedure to be adopted. The Hon. James McLeod, M.L.C., said that while agreeing that further enlightenment was necessary, he had -always been in accord with provincial appeals made on a national basis, thereby effecting a saving in individual advertising costs. Certain criticism was also levelled at the advertising costs proposed for the appeal, Mr. L. H. Clapham, Mayor of Hawera, criticising the amount to be paid ZB radio stations, while Mr. J. W. J. Haroing considered that the whole expense was a waste of money and savoured of extravagance. Mr. Frost spoke in defence of the radio advertising. Mr. Gilmour pointed out that Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the national council, would shortly be visiting the province to discuss a matter with the New Plymouth patriotic committee, and suggested that the whole position would be met if Mr. Hayden also made an explanation of the £1,000,000 drive. After further discussion a motion brought forward by Mr. Frost, that a clear explanation of the position be gained before' action was taken, was carried. The chairman also intimated that it was likely that a special meeting. of the council would be held, when all delegates "could have a go at Mr. Hayden."