TRIBUTE TO THE AIR FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 81, 2 October 1940, Page 8

TRIBUTE TO THE AIR FORCE

Now that the fund to buy fighting planes for presentation to the Royal Air Force has been closed, we wish to record our warm appreciation of the support given by many generous and enthusiastic contributors. It has been a pleasure to "The Post" to be associated with this effort, because of its purpose, and because of the evidence of stirring patriotism which it brought forth. The exploits of the Royal Air Force and the fortitude of the British people in the air war have stirred the hearts of all in the Empire, from King to commoner. New Zealand, and the Capital City of New Zealand have joined in expressing admiration and offering all support within their power. The Wellington contribution is the more gratifying because it has been essen-j tially a people's tribute. In Auckland, where there was also great public support, substantial donationsj were received from the City Councill and other governing bodies, and public men took a prominent part in promoting the appeal. Here, however, the effort was made by the people themselves. They spontaneously rose to the occasion, and "The Post" fund, though including one generous anonymous gift of £5000, and a number of substantial donations from business firms, was to a very great extent the expression of personal patriotic feelings of pride and gratitude. It is this feeling of comradeship that goes with the fund that will, we believe, make it of great value and significance to the British people who receive it.