PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1942, Page 2

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

NEW APPEAL IN MASTERTON AND DISTRICT HOUSE TO HOUSE CANVASS PROPOSED. HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT. An appeal is to be launched in Masterton and district early in March for donations to the patriotic funds for the provision of amenities for Service men, both in New Zealand and abroad. This year’s appeal by the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council is for £160,000, of which the Wairarapa quota is £20,800. The total to be raised throughout New Zealand is £752,700, of which sum £115,000 will be allocated to the sick and wounded account and £170,000 to the prisoners of war account, the remainder being for general patriotic purposes. Donations to the appeal are invited and it is intended to make a house to house canvass in Masterton and district some time during March. It may be of interest to the public to know exactly how patriotic funds arc being used. The budget for the year ending September 30, 1942, makes provision for the following estimates (the payments last year, if any, being given in parentheses):—Comforts for troops overseas, £61,600 (£32,041), including £14,000 for cigarettes and tobacco for distribution overseas and provision for every seaman on overseas service, except inter-colonial, to receive a parcel. New Zealand Forces Club, goods forwarded for sale at cost, nil (£18,132), the club is now more than paying its way and £lO,OOO for losses in mobile canteens. Imprests overseas remitted, £111,700 (£82,227). Regimental funds, grants, £3,000 (£520). Mobile canteens, £3,000 (£4,773). London Distress Fund and overseas organisations, £150,000 (£100,000). Comforts for troops in New Zealand, £13,500 (£9,721). Air Force Relations Account, £6,900 (£2,760), includes cost of wool under present contract for 12 months, £6,000. Lady Galway Patriotic Guild, £l5O (£534). Imprests in New Zealand: Catholic War Services Board, £9,000 (£11,644); Church of England Military Affairs Committee, £26,500 (£20,000); Salvation Army, £23.000 (£20,000); Y.M.C.A., £43,000 (£83,500); Navy League, £5OO (£175); five new Y.M.C.A. huts are to be built. Military bands equipment, £3,000 (£3,849). Purchase of wool for knitting, £56,000 (£23,750), Administration expenses, £1,850 (£1,878). Contingencies; £12,500. Gross total, £535,800. Estimated receipts, £68,600; net total, £467,200. THE SICK & WOUNDED. Sick and Wounded Account: Overseas hospitals, hospital ships, etc., £lB,OOO (£8,148). Overseas Imprests, £20,000 (£7,550). Grants to overseas, organisations, £20,000 (£19,251). Regimental Funds, £l,OOO (£567). Grants for equipment, £13.000 (£5,038). Imprest in New Zealand St. John and Red Cross Joint Council, £41,500 (£23,500). Contingencies, £6,000. Gross total, £119,500. Estimated receipts, £4,000; net total, £115,500. PRISONERS OF WAR. Prisoners of War Account: Parcels from New Zealand, £164,000, this includes a parcel once a week to each prisoner of war, also monthly parcel of cigarettes costing £14,000. Each parcel contains 21b. meat, lib. butter, tin cheese, tin honey, Jib. tea, tin jam, 6oz. chocolate, tin coffee and milk, tin dried fruit, tin vegetables. Technical books for prisoners of war, £2,500. Imprests in New Zealand, Joint Council of St. John and Red Cross, £3,500. Total, £170.000.

An amount of £166.000 is in hand. The requirements, in respect to knitted goods for 1942 are 60,000, each of balaclavas, mittens and scarves, and 180.000 pairs of socks. The following organisations in Wellington all received financial assistance from the patriotic funds and practically all arc now self-supporting: Combined Services Hostel, >A.N.A. Club, Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Toe H Everyman’s Club, Salvation Army Hut, Seamen’s Institute, British Sailors’ Society, Catholic Seamen's Institute; Catholic Services Club, Spinsters’ Club, Cinderella Club, and Webby’s Club.