MONEY FOR SIX AMBULANCES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23493, 22 November 1941, Page 5

MONEY FOR SIX AMBULANCES

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S WAR EFFORT . NEARLY £4OOO RAISED Six ambulances will be bought with the sum of nearly £4OOO raised by the school children of Canterbury and the West Coast in their first war effort. The children raised, the money by organising concerts, by sales of their work, by giving up their pocket-money, and in many ingenious ways. A letter from the Minister for Education, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, was received at yesterday’s meeting of the Canterbury Education Board saying that he had discussed the disposal of the money with the Minister for Defence. the Hon F.' Jones, and forwarded the following recommendation from Mr Jones:— “I would suggest that the funds raised by the school children of Canterbury be still used for the purpose for which originally intended. Two up-to-date ambulances are required for the New Zealand Forces in Fiji and we require a large number for the Home Defence Force? in New Zealand. The sum which it is stated as being available should be sufficient to provide at least six up-to-date ambulance cars. If these were provided, then in addition to sending two to Fiji the other four could be taken into use in New Zealand, for preference in the South Island where the money was raised.” The chairman, Mr G.' W. Armitage, said it was gratifying to know that the money would be disposed of. “You will remember that when we started out we thought we might raise enough for two ambulances,” he said. Mr C. S. Thompson said that the sooner the money was put into use. the better the children would be pleased. He suggested that photographs of the ambulances should be given to the schools, and that a plate should be put in each vehicle recording that it had been given by the children. “I am glad that something is being done," said Mr W. P. Spencer. “I was rather worried about the money. I hope the ambulances will not be needed in New Zealand " South Brighton Request.—Replying to a request by the South Brighton Progress League, the Chief Postmaster at Christchurch (Mr V. C. Lawn) has declined to extend money order anil savings bank facilities fo South Brighton, as inquiries showed that this was not warranted by the business transacted.