CAMP COMFORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1940, Page 5

CAMP COMFORTS

TRANSFER OF MONEY OVERSEAS. FACILITIES BY GOVERNMENT. An assurance that the -Government had made arrangements with the Reserve Bank to facilitate transfers overseas of all funds which, in the opinion of the National Patriotic Fund Board, were required for recreation huts, camp comforts, or other amenities for the troops in the field, has been given by the Deputy-Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, to the GovernorGeneral. Lord Galway. The following letter was sent to Mr Fraser by Lord Galway:— “As chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board, I am writing to draw your attention to the uncertainty which exists in some minds as to the position of certain moneys being sent overseas for war purposes. "The Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army, and other organisations are pushing a drive to raise funds for comforts for troops, and some people are inclined Io hesitate in subscribing, as they are not sure that money so subscribed will be allowed to be sent overseas. "I think that the position should be made perfectly clear, and be put beyond any misconception. The organisation of patriotic funds is now well established, and the principal bodies who are collecting agents now come into these categories:—Sick, wounded and prisoners of war, Joint Council of Red Cross and Order of St John; camp comforts, recreations, and sport, Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army, and other bodies, and provincial councils; Air Force comforts, Air Force relations; comforts for the Navy, trawlers, minesweepers, and merchant marine, Dominion branch of the Navy League (in process of formation}, and Flock House; comforts overseas, overseas commissioner of the board. "On the advice and with the cooperation of these bodies, the National Patriotic Fund Board proposes to allocate moneys as and when required to be sent overseas. "The Joint Council of the Red Cross Society and Order of St John will work closely in touch with the British

Red Cross and supplement what is required by the latter. "Money will be sent by the National Patriotic Fund Board to the British Red Cross and to the Red Cross of Allied countries. No money will be sent to the International Red Cross, but parcels for prisoners of war will be sent to the New Zealand High Commissioner in London. "1 wotdd like this letter published, together with your reply, in order to assure the public (hat money will be available for transfer overseas for :pa triot ic pur poses.” Mr Fraser’s reply was: — "In reply to your letter of March 11 concerning the doubts existing in some minds as to the availability of patriotic funds overseas, I have pleasure in advising you that the Government has made arrangements with the Reserve Bank to facilitate transfers overseas of all funds which in the opinion of the National Patriotic Fund Board are required for recreation huts, camp comforts or other amenities for our troops in the field."