PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20953, 4 November 1939, Page 10

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING IN HAMILTON SIR ERNEST DAVIS’ ADDRESS The statement that the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council was working for all parts of the province and was not in any way concentrated on Auckland was made by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, when speaking at a meeting of the council in the Hamilton municipal chambers last night. The organisation, which is also the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council was recently vested by the Government with the control and distribution of funds for patriotic purposes. The meeting was presided over by Sir Ernest, who is chairman of the council, and the delegates present included Messrs I. J. Goldstine (deputy-chairman), A. Ely, H. A. Anderson, J. Melling (treasurer), K. L. Usmar (secretary) Auckland; H. D. Caro (Mayor of Hamilton), W. L. Waddel, E. E. Rex (Hamilton), H. W. Wilson (Raglan), S. Ensor, J. F. Eames (Thames), H. W. Wilson (Raglan), R. Coulter (Te Aroha), W. C. Kennedy, D. Johnson (Piako), W. Hetherington, A. G. Strahan (Morrinsville), Edgar James, F. T. Ray (Cambridge), T. Jackson, W. A. McLean (Rotorua), A. Chapman (Huntly), L. O. Hall (Whangarei), W. R. Grant, S. W. Brachenrig (Rodney) and L. R. Wilkinson (Bay of Plenty). The Patriotic Council meeting was preceded by a meeting of the Auckland Provincial * Centennial Council, which is composed of the same members. “Four weeks have elapsed since we begun operations as the parent patriotic body for the province,” said Sir Ernest. “In that period, zones have had a busy time reconstructing their organisation to meet the new conditions. I feel it can be claimed that a not inconsiderable measure of progress has been made. “The experience of the officials is that as the public approach more closely to an understanding of the regulations, they take more kindly to them. Some, however, still harbour the thought that all the funds collected will go to, or be appropriated by, the Government. Such, of course, is a false belief. The Government cannot touch the funds, which will be administered and disbursed by the people of the province through this council. Surely nothing could be clearer than that. Each province has complete autonomy in that regard, and it, not the State, is the trustee or custodian of the funds. It is as well that the imoression that the money is ‘going to the Government’ should be eradicated. Spirit of Team Work “After all, if ever an organisation called for the spirit of team work, it is the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council,” said Sir Ernest. “We have embarked upon an entirely new field of activity, in which it would appear to me that, unless we hang together, there is a danger that we shall hang separately! If we can reproduce and maintain the harmonious relations which have characterised our work for the Centennial, our patriotic objective will be attained. This leads me to the point that some people still have an erroneous idea that the administration of patriotic affairs is concentrated in and dominated by Auckland. May I again endeavour to set their minds at ease. As far as this council is concerned, the relationship of the Auckland metropolitan area is that of one of the nine zones into which the province is subdivided, no more and no less. Deliberately, as chairman of the council, I have kept myself free to concentrate on the work for the province as a whole. It is important to bear in mind, as well, that the affairs of the province are governed by a body upon which the rural zones have substantial representation. Incidentally, it is my intention, with your support, to have this representation further extended, for both patriotic and Centennial purposes. Further evidence of decentralisation was to be found in the decision of the council at its initial patriotic meeting to delegate to the zone executive committees the power to appoint authorised collectors, and in the resolution that would be presented for their appointment as authorised agents for expenditure of the council, said the speaker. By the introduction of a uniform system of imprest accounts, the zones would have control of their expenditure under the customary voucher arrangement. In point of fact, the nucleus of the provincial fund would be that provided by the diversion of unexpected balances from the Auckland metropolitan centennial celebrations fund, and from these the whole of the province would derive benefit. It would be remembered that by the regulations the council, in its distributions, was called upon to have due regard to and to make such provision as it deemed proper for the fieeds of any zone, irrespective of the amount contributed by the zone. Local Initiative “On the question of extending the membership of zone, interzone and district committees for patriotic purposes, local initiative is to be the order. According to a ruling expressly obtained from the Department of Internal Affairs, this extension can be made without reference to the council. To put the matter in order, I propose to move an appropriate resolution in constitutional terms,” continued Sir Ernest. “Finally, the holding of this meeting at Hamilton is not without significance. It is hoped that, as opportunity permits, a meeting of the council will be held at other zone headquarters. I have recorded the foregoing facts for the purpose of demonstrating that from every point of view decentralisation is adequately provided for, and to convince those still in doubt that the administration is essentially provincial in character, purpose, policy and practice.” With a view to collecting funds, the speaker suggested that a flag week be held throughout the province on November 24. Sir Ernest also thanked the zones for their co-opera-tion. Sir Ernest’s memorandum and a

report from the secretary were received and adopted. It was decided that each zone in the province would co-operate in a flag week collection to be held from November 20 to November 25, inclusive, in aid of funds for the provision of comforts, amenities and special equipment to members of the armed forces, the appeal to be designated as the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Flag Week Appeal.