PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 103, 28 October 1939, Page 12

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

WELLINGTON COUNCIL

FIRST MEETING HELD

BAND FOR TRENTHAM

Simultaneously in their respective districts, on a date to be selected, the zone committees in the Wellington Province set up under the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations will make an appeal for funds for the benefit of the men in camp at Trentham. This' decision was made yesterday afternoon, when the first meeting of the Wellington Provincial Council was held. The appeal will be for funds tb buy band instruments, furnish a recreation hall, provide sports requisites, and to establish a regimental fund. The meeting was . addressed, by Colonel J. Hargest, M.P., and Mr. I. J. Goldstine, members of the National Patriotic Council, and also of that council's camp comforts, conveniences, and amenities committee. Mr. G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Council, also attended. The committee, said Colonel Hargest, had visited Trentham camp as a specimen of those established in the Dominion, and had spent four or five hours in consultation with officers and men at the camp. A meeting of the committee had been held afterwards, and as a result it had been decided, with, the permission of the Wellington council, to place before it certain recommendations. If this patriotic effort was going to get any momentum, early action was necessary. It was believed that the public would be anxious to satisfy needs when they were pointed out. IDEAL CONDITIONS. Colonel Hargest said that, in his private capacity, he had also visited the camps at Ngaruawahia and Burnham. Conditions in these camps and at Trentham were excellent. "I do not believe there ever was a military force assembled under more ideal conditions," he said. "I do not believe there is a better-fed body of men than that which is being fed today at Trentham. We are satisfied that if you hear complaints, there isn't much to them. I have never seen such good food and such quantities as I saw yesterday." Trentham suffered by. comparison with the other camps, in as much as it was old ground, and the men had had to make do with some of the older hutments. But he had delved into all sorts of places, and as one who fought in the last war, he felt he knew where the weak spots wer^ apt to be. However, he was well satisfied. He approached one of the cooks and asked him about his qualifications for the I job. The answer he received was thkt j this man had been the second chef at a leading' Wellington hotel. As'for the vegetables,' no hotel was being supplied with better vegetables. BAND WANTED. However, some faults were found. There was an entire absence of music in the camp. Half the morale of a regiment was made by a competent band, and there were none in the camps at the present time. To equip a band \frduld;;cost about He thought the effort should be to set up in each camp a home service band consisting of men who, though unfit for duty overseas, could, besides being bandsmen, learn ambulance and other useful work. Also, in each command there was an infantry battalion preparing to do its part wherever it was called upon to serve. In the last war, New Zealand had sent a band with each regiment, and he thought that the aim should be to ensure a similar arrangement this time. The committee had discussed the matter with the Minister of Defence, and the Minister had asked him to make the first appeal, that of getting £1000 quickly for a band. The next matter was the question of a big recreation and social hall. The view taken was that the Government should make each camp complete and that the provision of such a building should not be a call upon the Patriotic Purposes Fund. The committee had persuaded the Minister that there was an^ urgent need for a big social hall in the camp at Trentham, and the Government would provide; this forthwith. But there was the furnishing of the hall, and this, he j thought, should be a legitimate charge on the patriotic funds. .They could also undertake to add a little more comfort to the quarters set aside for the officers and sergeants. The third matter was -the provision of sports material. It was felt that every team game should be encouraged. REGIMENTAL FUND. | x'he fourth point was to provide money to establish regimental funds to defray the cost of replacing windows j that were mysteriously smashed and so on, and to enable a mending shop to be established of the type that in the j last war meant so much to the appearance of the men on leave. The profits from the canteen sales were not sufficient for this purpose. A fund of £50 ■or £60 was suggested for Trentham to meet this need. After Colonel Hargest and Mr. Goldstine had withdrawn, Mr. A. E. Mansford said that an appeal was being made all over the country for band instruments. He understood from bandsmen in Palmerston North that they were finding certain instruments. Mr. T. C. A. Hislop said that, nevertheless, there would be instruments that would have to be bought. | Mr. Hayden suggested that it might be possible to buy instruments from bands A'hich lately had ceased to function. It was decided to make inquiries into this possibility and generally to prosecute the appeal for immediate funds for the objects suggested by the camp amenities committee, the wording of the appeal to be drawn up by Mr. Hislop. Mr. Hislop is chairman of the Wellington council, Mr. E. M. Bardsley the secretary, and Mr. B. Petersen the treasurer. Mr. T. Jordan, Masterton, chairman of the national council, is the deputy-chairman. It was decided to ask the Commercial Travellers' Association, Red Cross Society, Salvation Army, Toe H, V.M.C.A., and R.S.A. to appoint representativesb on the council. A resolution was passH appointing the conveners of zone committees collectors, and also empowering them to sub-delegate that authority. It was announced that special receipt books are to be issued shortly. The Wellington council, said Mr. Hislop, had sole control of the collection and expenditure of patriotic funds in the Wellington provincial district, which was divided into nine zones, each controlled by a zone committee. All collectors must have definite authority to collect. As the pivot of all patriotic endeavours in the province the council had a heavy responsibility.

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