£75,000 SUBSCRIBED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 142, 12 March 1941, Page 5

£75,000 SUBSCRIBED

Provincial Patriotic Council’s Work Since the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council began operations some £76,000 has been received by the honorary treasurer, Mr. B. O. Peterson, and administrative expenses have been under 2 per cent. This information is given by the secretary to the council, Mr. Ward, M.L.C., in a circular just issued. Mr. Ward pays tribute to the work carried out by Mr. Peterson and the city treasurer’s staff. “Considering the extent of our province, one-fifth of the population of New Zealand, and the many avenues of expense involved, not only with funds but also sports gear for our military camps at Trentham, ..Waiouru. Foxton, Wanganui, Tauherenikau, Palmerston North, Fort Dorset, guard posts, air camps at Itongotai, Ohakea, Weraroa, and Navy bases ; the comforts supplied in the way of woollen goods, hussifs and so on: the soldiers’ gift parcels (about 30,000 in 12 months) ; expenses in connexion with the Lady Galway Guild, and the hundred and one affairs we deal with, I consider that anyone who complains about expenditure does so because of ignorance,” says Mr. Ward. Cigarettes and Tobacco.

“For every soldier overseas we are sending to go with each parcel cigarettes in tins of 50 or four ounces of loose tobacco in tins, with two packets of papers. We had to discontinue including these in parcels as it is impossible now to purchase in tins excepting by tlie arrangement the National Fund Board has now made for bulk shipments.

“Concerning supplies of cigarettes and tobacco to overseas troops the National Fund Board advises as follows: —“Because of the complaints received from time to time from New Zealand troops in Egypt regarding prices charged for cigarettes and tobacco in NAAFI canteens, the National Fund Board decided to forward to the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo monthly supplies of cigarettes and tobacco to the value of £lOOO a month, the tobacco and cigarettes to be sold at cost price to the troops. Advice has been received that the first supplies have arrived at Cairo, buj that the demand for the tobacco and cigarettes has been so great that it has been necessary to ration the sales. “The National Fund Board also advises as follows:—It has come to our notice that some of the unaddressed gift parcels forwarded overseas include tinned corned beef. The reaction to this when received by the troops is far from satisfactory, as tinned beef is a standard Army ration. I should be pleased if you would kindly instruct your committees not to include this article in unaddressed gift parcels. Tinned fish is also issued fairly frequently overseas, and it is not advisable to include this article in the parcels. I understand that various firms in New Zealand are. packing tinned lamb and green peas, lamb chops and tomatoes, and sausages and tomatoes, at an average cost of 1/2 a tin. This would be acceptable, as of course this type of meat is not a usual Army issue overseas.” Mufti Allowance. ’’lit future every soldier going tuto camp will hand in his civilian clothes at the camp. As soon as he goes overseas these clothes will be sent to a person whom the soldier' has nominated to receive them. On his discharge, after being overseas, he will receive a mufti allowance of £7/10/- in addition to the civilian clothes referred to. The soldier who is drafted for overseas, but through some accident or illness is discharged from the Army before going overseas, will not receive the mufti allowance, but will receive his civilian ciothes in the camp in exchange for his battle dress. Committees will appreciate that, with the Government rehabilitation scheme for pensions, economic pensions, social security, and so on, in full operation as now proposed, the calls on patriotic funds will probably not be required to the extent that was originally thought, and the whole matter, therefore, is to.be reviewed by the National Patriotic Advisory Council when it meets on April 30 next.

“The Anzae Society of New I’ork in the early stages of the war presented the national hoard with £2OO, followed by 600 Christmas parcels, then £1544 to furnish the soldiers’ club in Cairo. The

society has also presented the national board with five mobile canteens and 20 complete ambulances, the total value of their contributions being about £15,000. The society has appointed Mr. 11. P. Griffen, general manager ‘>l the Caltex Oil Company, Wellington, as their personal representative in New Zealand.”