COUNTY LADIES MEET

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 96, 4 December 1939, Page 5

COUNTY LADIES MEET

A PATRIOTIC FUNDS CONTROL COUNCIL FORMED In the County Chambers on . Friday afternoon ladies represen tative of the Women's Institutes, Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, and Red Cross Societies of the Whakatane County met under the chairmanship of Mr J. L. Burnett, acting-Chairman of the Whakatane County Council to consider the formation of an organisation to control the collecting - of funds for patriotic purposes. A resolution: This meeting moves that an Association be formed called M the Whakatane County Patriotic 'Council, was adopted. -L; In opening the meeting Mr Burnett said: "First of all I woukl like to take the opportunity of thanking you for your attendance. The reason for calling together delegates from the Institutes, Divisions, and Red Cross !Societies, was for a true representation of the County. There are a sgood many organisations run by ladies and most parts of the County rare covered by their activities. "The Provincial Patriotic Councils,," continued Mr Burnett, "would like to utilise such organisations. I will give you a brief idea of what ; you will be called upon to do. It will be impossible to take immediate steps because time is too short before Christmas. I feel that the yneed will be later on when the 'troops go overseas and then they -will appreciate very much anything that Ave can do for them." Y 1 Mr Burnett said that it would be "'difficult at first to get an organisation running smoothly, but no doubt, rafter a while, the various collecting !bodies would lie able to settle down rand work with co-operation and efficiency. The functioning of the Patriotic Councils was explained by Mr Burnett. ,He said that there is a Nationy. af. Council, at Wellington, and all Provincial Councils are responsible to that central body. The provinces, in turn,, are divided into zones and the zones are responsible to the executive.

Prevent Overlapping.

•'The Avhole idea of the legislation "brought down on the subject of patriotic activities," said Mr Burnett, • "is to prevent overlapping and a dup lication of effort." Mr Burnett said that he would like to make it quite clear that where a district had both a Women's and a Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, only one could be represented on the Council. "I would suggest that you ladies put the matter before your committees and get them to appoint a delegate to the council," said Mr Burnett. In answer to several questions -dealing with the work of Red Cross " Societies, the chairman stated that - any organisation collecting funds for patriotic purposes at the present time could be fined as the practice without the authority of the Provincial Council is illegal. Mr Burnett pointed out that the ruling does - not apply to the despatch of comforts to the troops in camp. It was stated quite definitely by - several members of Red Cross Societies, that they could not entertain the idea of working in with another body. They recognised only the authoritj7 of the New Zealand Branch • of the British Red Cross and the dis- - crimination between their societies • and patriotic committees was questioned. y A similar declaration was made by representatives of the Women's S who said that the Domin- ' ion Executive Was the only controlling body from which they could --accept a ruling. Clarification Desired. After some discussion among the ladies Mr Burnett suggested that the Taneatua, Edgecumbe, Awakeri, Matata and Te Teko branches of the Red Cross should each have a repre- * sentative on the proposed council. "Would you ladies be prepared to work in with the scheme of the • County," asked Mr Burnett. "If you are willing it would make the position much simpler." Mrs Haultain: "Hie position wants - clarifying. It seems that the Red Cross and the proposed patriotic f- council are parallel bodies. The Red Cross intends to raise funds to expend on comforts for the troops and the Patriotic Committee seems to be for thp same purpose." "Yes." answered the chairman, "but Avhat you have to bear in mind is that you have to havfe authority

Tor the collection of funds. You can see how difficult it would be if we . can't pool all of the County's resources. J would suggest that as the aims of the Red Cross are similar, they should pool with the County." "We cannot let our Society down" said Mrs Haultain. "To put it plain]y, does the legislation not recognise the Red Cross?" Mr Burnett explained that tho problem was wider than the recognition of one Society. "There is not a Red Cross organisation in every dis triet," said Mr Burnett, "and I would again point out that this is not a matter that concerns just two or three districts. As [ have said, the action of this council will be to collect funds throughout the county." Mrs Luxton: "Do not the Red Cross control their funds when they have collected them?" This drew a further explanation from Mr Burnett, who said that all funds collected in the zone are to be forwarded to the Provincial Council. Operations of Council. Asked to outline the scheme of operations for the proposed council, the chairman said that from time to time the council would make an appeal. The three methods of collecting money and goods were tentatively proposed asj (a) A street collection, such as was held recently; (b) an appeal through the Institutes etc., for shirts, sox, etc.; (c) a subscription list to be opened so that the public could contribute. Mr C. G. Lucas read a memorandum from the Chairman of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Coun- ■ cil, Sir Ernest Davis, which covered the questions raised in regard to the , collecting and control of funds. Mrs Wool field said that the socie- 7 ties represented at the meeting ( should sink their own little causes ( into one big effort and with this view the chairman agreed when he , was asked AA'hether the council would have any voice in the spending of the money raised. "No," said Mr Burnett. "I'm afraid we won't. But you see how difficult it would be. Tauran-ga county is also in this zone and it is quite possible that the council there would

have different ideas." Council Formed. It was moved and seconded- that the meeting form an Association to be called the Whakatane County Patriotic Council and that the following bodies should be offered appointment as official collectors of the Council: Waimana and Nukuhou Women's Institute; Taneatua and Ruatoki Red Cross; Awakeri Red Cross; Edgecumbe Red Cross; Otaltiri Women's Institute; Te Teko Red Cross; Matata Red Cross, Matata Maori Red Cross, Manawahe Women's Institute. There were rio representatives from Galatea and it was decided to communicate with bodies in that area for nomination. At Ohope and Waingarara, and at Thornton,, Women's Institutes or Divisions are not in existence and it would be desirable if residents in these areas could' form a Society on those lines. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair.