PATRIOTIC WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 96, 23 April 1940, Page 4

PATRIOTIC WORK

GREATER UNITY

ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTH

A number of important matters "were discussed with branches of the patriotic purposes organisation by Mr. G. A. Hayden, of Wellington, secre-tary-treasurer of the National Patriotic Fund Board, on his recent northern tour. He said today that he found throughout the North Island that the Patriotic Purposes Regulations were now being understood better and that everybody was working with but one object in view, and that was the welfare of the fighting forces.

When he met the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council Mr. Hayden discussed with this body the question.of the care of soldiers on their return to the Dominion. He said that as the result of the discussion the council decided to set up committees throughout its area consisting of its own nominees and nominees from the Returned Soldiers' Association whose duty it will be to look after the welfare of returned men and their dependants.

"One can have nothing but praise for the organisation in Auckland and throughout the big area which the Auckland Provincial Council controls," Mr. Hayden added. "The council undoubtedly is a live body and has done excellent work."

Other places visited by Mr. Hayden included Whakatane, Opotiki, Otorohanga, Te Awamutu, and Taihape.

There had been a misunderstanding of the regulations at Whakatane, Mr. Hayden said, but the position had now been clarified. At Otorohanga he met the branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association which had been of the opinion that the regulations would hamper the collection of funds in the district, but he was pleased to say that, after he had explained the intentions behind the regulations and the way they worked, the R.S.A. branch fully approved of them. At Taihape he had the pleasure of meeting the zone committee and had found the members of this organisation most enthusiastic. There was also a very good committee working at Te Awamutu. When he was in the Bay of Plenty he had discussed with the citrus fruit growers the possibility of sending supplies of citrus fruits which, though of good quality, were either too large or a little small to meet the grading requirements, to the military camps in the Dominion, and the growers had agreed to go into the question. Arising out of this discussion with the Bay of Plenty growers, Mr. Hay. den said he had also taken up with the Internal Marketing Department the question of bulk supplies of citrus juice being sent overseas to the British Red Cross and the French Red Cross for the benefit of men in hospital.

"To expect a child on a winter's day to swallow half a pint of cold milk— well, it's a bit hot!" remarked one parent at a school committee election last night. When the laughter had subsided, it was explained that there •was no compulsion about the milk drinking, and another parent said, judging by the improved standard of health, this daily ration of milk was one of the finest introductions ever made into the schools.