POOR RESPONSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 December 1940, Page 5

POOR RESPONSE

MADE TO PATRIOTIC APPEAL FURTHER ACTION DISCUSSED NEED OF STIRRING PEOPLE UP. DECISIONS AT MEETING LAST NIGHT. Disappointment with the response, up to the present, and regret at the apathy which appeared to exist in Masterton concerning the raising, of the local quota for the £1,000,000 Provincial Patriotic Fund appeal was expressed by several speakers at a meeting of the Masterton Patriotic Commit fee held last, night. The Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, presided over a good attendance. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J. T. Jameson, H. J. Brass, C. Kyngdon and G. Groves. A telegram was received from Mr J. Robertson, M.P., apologising for his absence owing to Parliamentary duties. “It is the bright spot of the week for us. All will admit that things are sticking,” commented Mr J. P. Farrell in reporting that a party of men from Pahiatua had offered to come to Masterton on Saturday and run side-shows, etc., at the gala day in the Park on Saturday. Pahiatua had exceeded its quota and the action of the party offering its assistance was noteworthy. “We have raised the sum of £894 13s Id to date, which is a very feeble effort,” he added.

COMMUNITY "WORMING.” “I am very disappointed with the community. We are not getting the rise the cause demands. In plain language the community is worming,” stated Mr Jordan. He went on to deny in emphatic and vigorous terms an allegation that patriotic funds were being used to meet the obligations of members of the British Medical Association who were on active service. “We must look to ourselves. I am quite convinced that we can make- a success of the appeal. It is not fair to blame outsiders,” added Mr Farrell. The secretary of the appeal, Mr A. P. Bennett, observed that the committee had been around interviewing some 200 employers, but only 50 had furnished lists to date. Things were dragging in every way. Business men were not giving the response expected of them in connection with the appeal for a day’s pay by employers and employees. Mr H. E. Pither: “The members of the committee who made the appeal should follow it up.” Mrs Jordan: “People are waiting to hear what to do.” “What can we do to stir the people up?” asked Mr Jordan. He added that he had done his best. In a short space some months ago, £3OOO had been raised in Masterton. Many were short of cash, but that did not apply to the great body of the people.

MORE CANVASSING. Mi’ E. M. Hodder suggested that a committee of 25 to 30 be set up to canvass a list of 400 names who could not be classed as employers or employees in connection with the day’s pay appeal. The committee should be a fresh one. If they were going to get the money in from the canvass it had to be pushed to the limit. If the sum of £2500 was not raised before Christmas there was a a poor chance of raising the quota. The canvass required carrying out quickly. He was prepared to act as a canvasser.

Mr R. Whyborn, president of the Wairarapa R.S.A. said his committee had met with a poor response when raising funds at the Interhouse sports held in the Park recently. The sideshows had raised £l3, but raffle tickets sold by young ladies around the ring amounted to £27. Although it was appreciated that attention was concentrated on the girls’ display the result provided grounds for pessimism. ! STREET APPEAL. I

Miss O. R. Sutherland suggested that a good way of arousing more enthusiasm was to offer the people something attractive, humorous and interesting in the main street on a Friday night. Mr P. F. Fagan suggested carrying the idea out but to enlarge its scope. Miss Sutherland was appointed convenor of a committee to organise such a function as she had outlined in Queen Street on Friday week. Mr Farrell was appointed convenor of a committee to conduct the additional canvass- and it was agreed that the committee which had interviewed employers make a further effort to see all employers.

Mr G. T. O’Hara Smith (secretary of Zone B committee) reported that tickets for the raffle of a section donated by Mr Jordan had been printed and were available for distribution. An application, for the extension of the closing dale to February 15, 1941, and the drawing date to February 28, 1941, had been granted.