PATRIOTIC FUND

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 21 July 1942, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUND

Result Of Recent Appeal In Wellington

SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE . METHODS One of the Items which occupied the attention of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee yesterday was the result of the appeals for money for the Patriotic Fund, which provides fcr the comfort and recreation of the troops in the field and the camps. The report of the honorary organizer, Mr. J. Annand-Smith, was before the board, it stated that the sum of £51,000 had been secured as the result of the recent campaign, which was 50 per cent, of the amount required. “The time has arrived for me to report,” continued, “that it appears that the plan of direct giving may have to be changed, as only approximately £54,000 has been secured from the metropolitan area. You and the members of the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee are fuHy alive to the many difficulties that confronted us during th® month of June, the period of our mala effort, and it is impossible to arouse any further interest among the many committees that were formed for this drive. Everyone who assisted in any way at all deserves the sincere thanks of the Patriotic Committee.” The report went on to suggest various. alternative means of raising the necessary funds the proposals including a levy on wages, raffles, a carnival, street days, football matches, a big art union (other than the ordinary art unions), and messages to soldiers (sold for 2/6 each). No definite recommendations were made. Up Against It. “I think,” said Mr. E. Palliser, “that the honorary organizer deserves a great deal of credit for the show he has put up, for what he has done in four weeks collecting is a record for New Zealand. He had to make his appeal in the most atrocious weather and following the big loan, and yet he succeeded in raising 50 per cent, of the sum wanted. Others elsewhere who commenced raising money as far back as February did not reach that goal, some getting 'only 20 per cent. Then he did not get the support that he should have got from certain institutions and business houses, who took advantage of smoke screens such as having done their part in connexion with the various Government appeals, whereas all they had done was merely investing in Government loans. No honorary organizer has evefr been faced with such difficulties or has, in the face of them, achieved such results. The mayor, Mr. Hislop, who presided, said he thought they could record with deep appreciation the work which had been done in the face of extremely difficult circumstances, and moved that a letter conveying that appreciation be forwarded to Mr. Annand-Smith. This was agreed to. Mr. H. Green said in regard to the references made to business houses that the result might have been very different were it not for the fact that gifts of money t- patrioic funds were being taxed. In his opinion the Government should exempt such gifts from taxation, and place them, in the same category as expenses. The chairman said that the point might be taken up with the National Patriotic Board, with a view to a recommendation being made to the Government Mr. Palliser said that though a wages levy had been turned down by the Trades Hall people, it had been adopted by the Public Service Association, with the result that £5OO a month was being subscribed to the National Patriotic Fund. If something of the kind were not done he was afraid that there was a section of the community who would not contribute anything. A sub-committee was set up to go into ways and means. Those mentioned as members were Messrs. J. Annand-Smith,, E. Palliser, A. Cowles, H. Green and E. Brooking, with power to add to their number.