PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23971, 11 June 1943, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

EXPENDING AGENTS POSITION EXPLAINED BY BOARD Although there appears to be a better appreciation now in New Zealand of the way the Dominion’s patriotic organisation operates (says a statement issued by the National Patriotic Fund Board), it is evident that a misconception still exists in the minds of some of the New Zealand service personnel overseas. This is undoubtedly because of the use that is made of well-known national welfare institutions as expending and distributing agents. These institutions have been permitted throughout to make known their close and important association with the work by using their special insignia or badges and also by other means. They have done a splendid job, says the statement, and the National Patriotic Fund Board feels that they should have this privilege. However, the system has led to some members of the armed forces believing that the patriotic effort is being financed by these organisations, whereas the actual position is that their war work among the forces is financed from the patriotic funds. To bring the facts more directly to the attention of the-men overseas, the board has had a leaflet printed, a copy of which is to be included in each unaddressed parcel sent overseas through the patriotic organisations. The leaflet points out that it has never been intended to use patriotic funds to supply individual comforts for the New Zealand forces overseas, the policy being to supply collective comforts such as recreation huts, bands, clubs, cinemas, mobile canteens, subsidies to regimental funds, sports gear, libraries, writing materials, and similar amenities. It is also explained that because of transport and other difficulties the threemonthly distribution of gift parcels cannot always be arranged, although they are packed quarterly,, and every endeavour is made to diwtch them» regularly. /#•>