PATRIOTIC COUNCIL MEETING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23914, 5 April 1943, Page 3

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL MEETING

♦ SICK AND WOUNDED FUND A proposal emanating from Wellington that the Joint Council of the Order of St, John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society should be permitted to collect and earmark for the sick and wounded account a proportion of the Provincial Council’s monetary requirements for the year, was approved at a meeting of the Canterbury Provincial Council. The amount required from each of the zones in the provincial district would be allocated later. An amendment to the constitution was passed enabling the appointment of a returned serviceman from the present war as a member of the council. It was agreed that this member would be a considerable help to the council and to members of the armed forces. Provided that the North Canterbury Zone Committee did not object, it was decided to permit the Waipara County to form a separate zone. The Mavor of Timaru (Mr A. E. S. Hanan) said that letters from metf serving overseas gratefully acknowledging patriotic parcels, were conclusive proof that these parcels were reaching their destination. In fact, he said, 99 per cent, of the parcels sent were received, which was a gratifying result for the patriotic committee. , , .. During the last month the standing committee had received a total of 144 applications for assistance, said the report, read by Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon, convener of the committee. Of these 91 had been given grants amounting to £276 16s 6d, 26 had been declined, nine had been referred to other funds, and 13 had been deferred for further information. This committee had also made grants for sports gear and camp amenities. An increasing number of grants had been made in the way of loans to bridge the gap after soldiers enter camp, and until the first allotment is payable.