GOOD RESPONSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1942, Page 2

GOOD RESPONSE

MASTERTON PATRIOTIC APPEAL CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE CONGRATULATED. QUOTA EXCEEDED BY £678. Eight weeks after the first meeting was held to arrange the Masterton Patriotic Appeal the quota of ,£10,858 had been exceeded. This satisfactory result was brought under notice at a meeting of. the Masterton and District Patriotic Appeal Committee last night to receive a report of the recent campaign. Mr T. Jordan presided. General tribute was paid to the work of Air el. A. Betts and his committee, the ladies’ commitlee, and to t lie services of “John Bull,” Mr A. P. Bennett, as secretary. “We have the gratifying news that vze have more than obtained our quota of £10,858,” said Mr Betts. “Our total to date is £11,536 6s 2d, which is £678 over the quota. That was the gross amount, but there was little expense apart from advertising. There were no administrative or secretarial expenses. The expenses had worked out at 15s for every £lOO received. The success of the appeal was largely due to the great help they had received from their most courteous, tactful and energetic honorary secretary and treasurer, known as “John Bull (Mr A. P. Bennett), who had been well backed up by a good working committee which had met regularly every morning. They had been very ably supported in the campaign by the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee, which was assisted by a wonderful lot of helpers. Their efforts comprised shop days, concerts and the military ball. The combined shop days realised the very satisfactory sum of £6Bl 3s lOd, the military 'concerts organised by Mrs E. J. Rich £134 16s 9d, and the Military Ball organised by Miss Robieson and Mrs Betts £287 0s 4d. The committee paid a warm tribute to the wonderful help received from the Women’s Committee. AIR FORCE BAND. Another very successful effort was that organised by the Men’s Committee, in connection with the Military Tattoo and the visit of the Air Force Band, said Mr Betts. Thanks were due to the military authorities, the Minister of Defence, the Wairarapa Interhouse Association and the P. and T. Social Club. The receipts from the various functions arranged in connection with the band’s visit totalled £382 18s 3d. A special vote of thanks was due to all who had assisted in the billeting of the bandsmen and those who had attended to the transportation and other duties. It was the unanimous opinion of the bandsmen that Masterton was the best organised town they had visited on all 'their tours. The Military Ball reflected great credit on the ladies responsible for organising it. Their aim was to raise by way of donations sufficient money to cover all expenses and in this they were successful. The whole of the door receipts went to the fund —a record for Masterton. Thanks were due to the splendid band of ladies who worked wonders that night. The orchestra, under the direction of Lieut. Chrisp, was a feature of the evening and the committee thanked it for the splendid service rendered. It also extended its thanks to the doorkeepers and others who controlled a crowd of over 900 people. To the country helpers who canvassed the Masterton, Mauriceville and Castlepoint counties the committee owed a debt of gratitude. That part of the campaign was organised by Mr J. C. D. Mackley and was carried out in his usual efficient manner. CONSCIENCE APPEAL. “Though, sir, we have more than reached our quota,” said Mr Betts, “much to our sorrow we pass each day in the street and know of many who have not responded to this worthy and needful appeal. As you know we have launched this campaign as a conscience appeal. We still live in hopes that those who have not yet given will ■think of those prisoners of war, the mained and wounded of Libya and Crete, the . airmen who won the Battle of Britain, the wonderful men of the Royal Navy and lastly those gallant merchant sailors who carry our men and produce across the dangerous water. It is so little that we can do but at least we can provide some little extra comfort that will serve to remind them that we at home are thinking and caring for them.” Mr Betts pointed out that about £5OO of the money collected should, perhaps, rightly be credited to the South Wairarapa. DIFFICULT TASK. Complimenting Mr Betts and the committee on its report, Mr Jordan moved that the report be received and the chairman and committee thanked for performing a very difficult task. Their work, he said, would have been easier if the spirit of the community had been better and he believed it would have to be better if they were to make their proper contribution to the war effort. Mr Jordan said he also had pleasure in congratulating the committee on its method of raising the money. Mr H. H. Daniell had given good service as publicity officer and had done his best to appeal to everyone. Mr-Jordan also expressed thanks to the ladies for what they had done. Mrs Betts must have felt very pleased with the result of the Military Ball. Mrs O’Hara Smith had done a lot of work in connection with the Patriotic Shop. Seconding the motion, Mr J. Robertson, M.P., said it had been a wonderful effort. Mr Betts and his committee deserved particular thanks for the success of their efforts and the way in which the money was collected. There was need for every penny, as the demand would be greater -in the future. As a member of the committee, Mr E. M. Hodder expressed the committee’s very keen appreciation of the able way in which Mr Betts had handled the appeal. The committee greatly appreciated his leadership, guidance and wisdom in the conduct of the campaign. -* PRESENTATION TO “JOHN BULL.” Stating that Masterton was singularly fortunate in having a man of Mr Bennett’s type available to do the work and that in other parts of the Dominion men had been paid and paid

well for a job well done, Mr Jordan said it was thought some appreciation should be shown to Mr Bennett for his services. He had much pleasure in presenting him with a clock, inscribed “To ‘John Bull,’ Friend of the Fighting Forces, Masterton, 1941-42,” in recognition of his services in this and the previous year’s appeals. Mr Bennett said the members of the committee had been a wonderful executive. He could not have done anything without the backing of the committee and of Mr Betts. Every promise that went on to the books had been honoured. A lot of their success was due to the publicity officer’s work. He thanked Mr Betts for the facilities placed at his disposal, and also MiHeaps, Miss Gill and Mr Tony Betts for their assistance. He acknowledged with gratitude, the gift of a daughter-in-law clock. On behalf of the committee, Mr Betts said Mr Bennett had been a wonderful help in the campaign. Mr Hodder suggested that in future appeals a co-ordinated effort should be made in all parts of the Wairarapa. 1 A motion on these lines was carried.