PATRIOTIC EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 3, 29 September 1943, Page 6

PATRIOTIC EFFORT

Work Of Wellington Committee

REPORT BY SECRETARY Reporting for the year just completed on the activities of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, the honorary secretary, Mr. I. M ard, at Monday s meeting of the committee, said that the Wellington provincial quota was £205,410. of which £173,580 was paid to the National Patriotic Board. The metropolitan quota was £100,580 The . funds, raised amounted to £76.950, leaving at September 27 a shortage of £-/>, 101. which had to be raised by sick and wounded appeal: street days, and appeals to business and professional men. The Public Service had intended to have a street day on September 25, but because of the election this was postponed till Friday, October L, This would be the culmination of a strenuous effort on the part of the service. The resu.te Ol the street day would be part and parcel of the present drive for 1943 funds. “No words of mine, said Mr. Ward, “can express the appreciation of the appeals committee and myself for the help we have received during the year from hundreds of voluntary workers in. aiding us to raise our quota. I wish r'lucerely’ to thank the chairman, the houoi'ary treasurer, members of tlie committee as a whole and the sub-committee for the great work and devotion to duty they have all given during these long years of war to the many and diverse patriotic work required to be done in this city. Everything has been accomplished quietly and unobtrusively, with the result that the people of Wellington have good cause io be proud of the capital city’s patriotic work.” . Air Ward also extended his thanks to all those voluntary workers, who knitted, packed, attended at. hostels, or entertained in the camps, giving their services freely in the patriotic cause. Mr. Ward thanked his own personal staff for the help they had given him. specially-Mij« Riddick, who had been connected with the office since the committee was set up over three years ago. He had acted as honorary secretary from that time, he said, at first as a part-time job. but such was the growth of the worx attendant upon the metropolitan and provincial patriotic committees that it was now more than a full-time job. He now placed himself in the hands of the committee to say whether or not they were satisfied with his work or desired to make a change. On behalf of the committee. Mr. Hislop praised the manner in which Mr. Ward had carried out his onerous duties as honorary secretary of the two committees. whose interests were so largely interlocked. He could not imagine anyone who could do better in a position which required so much energy, persistence and tact, and on behalf of the committee, he hoped that Mr. Ward would carry on as he had during the past three years. These sentiments were heartily endorsed by the other members present.