Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1943. THE PATRIOTIC APPEAL.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1943. THE PATRIOTIC APPEAL.

JT is possible to agree with the Mayor of Masterton (Mr Jordan) that, this part of the Wairarapa. ought to be making a much better response than it is to the current patriotic appeal. Bearing in mind that there are few homes in this district or in other parts of the Dominion which are not represented husband, brother, son or other kinsman in the fighting forces, it is perhaps hardly necessary to raise the question of whether we are worth fighting for, but it is clear that some means must be devised of stimulating contributions if the Patriotic Fund is to be kept going. Mr Jordan has said that with a population of about 25,000 in the district south from Eketahuna, an average donation of 16s per head would provide the sum of £20,000 asked for. At present, with the appeal intended to close a week hence, a veiy large part of that amount remains to be found. The whole problem involved may be brought quickly to a happy solution if people will consider quietly for themselves the nature and claims of the patriotic appeal. It is rather obvious that the problem will not be solved by somewhat remarkable attempts to bustle people into making voluntary eontiibutions. If these methods serve their purpose in some instances, they certainly fail in others, and for reasons that are not far to seek. Many people of modest means, for example, are spending a good deal more than anyone would expect them to contribute to patriotic funds in sending directly and on their own account parcels of comforts to their relatives and friends in the fighting forces. Those who are doing this are not likely to feel at all humbled or abashed, though they may feel rather irritated and indignant, at being told; that they are leaving our soldiers in the lurch. On the other hand it is no doubt true that a great many members of the community who might easily contribute in greater or less degree to the patriotic funds are not doing so. Patriotic fund agents and spokesmen would be wise, however, to show a certain amount of discrimination in their appeals and amongst other things to take due note of tfre fact that in these clays some parents of limited income find it no easy matter to make adequate provision for the needs of their families. Appeals on behalf of the patriotic fund are best based upon an intelligent statement of the ease which may be expected to carry conviction and to loosen pursestrings. There is such a case to be stated and there should be no difficulty in making it appeal even to those who are already sending parcels of comforts to their relatives and friends in the fighting forces, but are capable still of doing something more. One of the best reasons for providing patriotic funds is that a certain number of our men on the fighting fronts-, for one reason or another, do not receive parcels from relatives or friends. Anything that can be done to put these men on a level with their fellows in the matter of the little additional comforts and amenities that mean so much to the soldier, sailor or airman is splendidly worth doing. It is only through the agency of the patriotic funds that provision can be made in this way for the needs of ithose who otherwise would have to be classed as forgotten men. Taking account also of what should be the powerful and overshadowing claims to sympathy of our defenders who are sick', wounded or prisoners of war, the call for patriotic funds should make an irresistible appeal to all who are in a position to contribute in either large or small amounts. There can be no doubt about the claim that our fighting meh, and our nurses and other members of their sex engaged in war service, have upon the community. It is for members of the community to determine for themselves individually whether they can afford to reject that claim, so far as voluntary contributions to patriotic funds are concerned.