DISTRESS RELIEF

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21221, 18 September 1940, Page 6

DISTRESS RELIEF

AIR RAID SUFFERERS WAIKATO TO FIND £45,000 OPENING OF CAMPAIGN Further information concerning the opening of the campaign to raise Waikato’s allocation of £45,000 to relieve distress among air-raid sufferers in London is given by Mr W. L. Waddel, the Waikato Zone secretary. The decision to launch the campaign for funds immediately was made in view of the need for urgency in assisting those in distress. The National Patriotic Fund Board has already transmitted £IOO,OOO to the Lord Mayor of London’s Fund, and the initial aim of the campaign is to raise funds to cover the zone’s allocation for this amount. The provision of funds for any patriotic purpose whatsoever is now the exclusive responsibility of provincial councils, and the immediate outstanding objective of the campaign, to cover the cost of the £IOO,OOO already sent, is only the first phase. As well as this the provincial fund is now required to cover its proportionate share of expenditure on every classification of patriotic purpose, including the relief of London; rehabilitation, relief, assistance and support of dependants of members and ex-members of the Fighting forces and the necessitous ex-members of the forces; knitted and other comforts; gift parcels; sporting equipment in camp; hostel accommodation; and regimental funds. List For Donations Waikato’s large allocation of £45,000 not only will cover its share of the contributions for air-raid sufferers, but will be utilised for these other purposes. For such a large sum to be raised a comprehensive campaign will be organised, and as a start the Waikato Times has opened a list on the request of the patriotic zone and will acknowledge donations. “There seems little doubt that there is an urgent necessity for funds to relieve the distress in London caused by the indiscriminate bombing of the Nazis,” said the chairman of the Waikato Patriotic Zone, Mr H. D. Caro, in announcing today the opening of the campaign. “These people are in the front line defending freedom and democracy for the whole world, and it is up to us to do all we possibly can to help them in their task. No Thought Of Failure “Besides being used for this worthy cause the money from our full allocation will be utilised in the best interests of our own boys who are doing their bit for the Empire, and this should give added impetus to the campaign. There is no thought of failure for our cause. We will win out in the end, no matter how hard the task, and it is the duty of us here in New Zealand to give those in the front line, in every theatre of war, the utmost assistance. “The necessities and comforts with which the air-raid sufferers and troops are supplied through our giving will mean much to our cause,” concluded Mr Caro, “as it will help in maintaining that wonderful morale that neither Hitler nor Mussolini can break.”