WAR FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 30, 3 August 1940, Page 7

WAR FUNDS

PATRIOTIC BODIES

FUNCTIONS OUTLINED

As there is a misunderstanding regarding the work of the co-ordination of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society, the sick and wounded appeal, and the National Patriotic Fund Board, the following statement has been issued on behalf of the National Patriotic Fund Board and the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society with a view to clarifying the position:

"The Joint Council has been appointed by the National Patriotic Fund Board as the authorised collector for the Sick and Wounded Fund, all money collected being paid to the National Patriotic Fund Board. The Joint Council has also been appointed the only authorised expending agent of the Sick and Wounded Fund; that is to say, the Joint Council actually carries out" the work of the board in connection with the sick and wounded.

"The National Patriotic Fund Board, in the early days of the war, decided that money should be raised in the order in which it would be expended. Consequently it authorised first the Fighting Services appeal (for the comforts of troops overseas), which was held in May, and secondly,, the Sick and Wounded appeal which has recently been completed. Arrangements have now been made between the National Patriotic Fund Board and the Provincial Patriotic Councils that no further national appeals will be made by independent bodies, and all future appeals will be made by the Proving cial Patriotic Councils for rehabilitation, or the care of the men upon their return. SPLENDID RESPONSE. "The wonderful response made by the people of New Zealand to the appeal for the sick and wounded has been inspiring. The original amount aimed at—£2so,ooo—has been doubly subscribed, and, as far as can be forer seen, sufficient money is now in hand for this phase of the work.

"The various committees and subcommittees of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society will be provided with funds with which to carry out their war work on application being made to theig centre. The work should, however, onYy be done as is requested from time to time by the heaquarters of the Joint Council, which is supplied with the information of what actual work is required by requests from overseas and by requests from the Director-General of Medical Services. It will be realised that making goods in excess of the actual requirements, plus a reasonable reserve, is at the present time a waste of good material.

"The National Patriotic Fund Board and the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society desire to record their sincere thanks to the various committees throughout New Zealand who have worked so wholeheartedly for the success of the appeal, and to request them not to disband but to make their services available to their local patriotic committees throughout the Dominion."