PATRIOTIC WORK

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 176, 20 April 1940, Page 8

PATRIOTIC WORK

Purpose Of New Decrees CARE OF SOLDIERS Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, April 19. The terms of additional regulations dealing with new patriotic purposes, which, are to be declared by the Minister of internal Affairs, - Mr. Parry, were reported to a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council. The chairman, Sir Ernest Davis, presided, and members were present from all parts of the province. It was explained that the original regulations applied only to members of the British forces, and that the new regulations applied the original ones to His Majesty’s Allies, and extended them to include the provision ot reliei and assistance to dependants of members and ex-members of the three branches of the armed services, and to necessitous ex-members of those serIt had been emphasized by the Minister that the new purposes, for which the funds of both provincial councils and the National I; mid Board ’ could be utilized, were not to be so 1 applied as to relieve the Government of any responsibility it had toward the persons concerned. Wounded and Prisoners. ; Provision was also being made for - the cases of the sick and wounded and prisoners of war, but this activity was expressly limited to the National Fund. At the same time, provincial councils i were not necessarily precluded from assisting the sick, wounded and prisoners of war if they should desire , to do so. . in a memorandum, the chairman said it had been realized that the work car- , tied out during the last six months was but preliminary to the greater active ; ties envisaged in the new regulations. [ He believed that the provincial coun- , cil would welcome the opportunity of , undertaking what might be termed the temporary care of those who were 5 in need as a result of war service. They . should inform the Minister of their [ support, and as an organization do all > they possibly could to bridge the gap between the point at which necessity J for immediate assistance arose and ; that at which Government assistance was made available. Large Sum Spent. > The chairman said the provincial council’s activities so far bad been con- ! fined to the provision of comforts : and special equipment to members of 1 the three branches of the armed forces : at home aud abroad. This work had ■ been well done, aud something over * £4OOO had been spent. Now that the 1 National Fund Board was in a position • to deal with the provision of comforts - overseas, he felt that the provincial , council could direct its future aetivi- '■ ties to the new patriotic purposes, and ■ the supplied items, such as Bala- ' clavas, gloves, scarves, mittens, pull- ! overs, hussifs and gift parcels, as 1 called upon by the National Fundi ! Board. There was no suggestion that I work in the camps should be neglected, ' but so far as he could ascertain, except i for recurring recreational facilities, i tlie provision made in that respect was : ■ sufficiently adequate.