"THANKS AGAIN"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 37, 12 August 1942, Page 4

"THANKS AGAIN"

PATRIOTIC COMFORTS

GEN. FREYBERG'S MESSAGE

A cable message from Lieu-tenant-General Sir. Bernard Freyberg expressing appreciation of the provision made for his men in the Middle East from patriotic funds was received yesterday afternoon by the National Patriotic, Fund Board. The text of the message is as follows:— "Would like ; people of New Zealand to know: how much National Fund is appreciated-at time like this. V.M.C.A., Church Army, and \ Red Cross are doing great work distributing patriotic" fund cigarettes, tobacco, writing materials, chocolate, parcels, etc., to men in forward areas and to wounded in hospitals- May I on behalf of N.Z.E.F. overseas once again thank.people of New Zealand for their gift parcels and . for their generosity in subscribing to the patriotic funds." A LACK OF REALISATION. Speaking last night in support of the present appeal for patriotic funds, the Rev. Monsignor Connolly, chairman of the Catholic War Services/Fund Board, expressed the view that some /people had not subscribed or had given only a small donation in the past because they did not realise the .extent of the work being done by the patriotic funds. The organisation controlling the funds provided an opportunity of paying a personal debt to the men of the New Zealand Forces, bit was not a debt in the sense of "being something that could be exacted in a court;of justice, but something; more, sacred—a sharing of one's possessions with a comrade; who was unprovided for, who was .sick, wounded, or imprisoned. It was an expression' of human generosity displayed among those in common adversity.- :'.-".'■ "You would share if you were a fellow 'DiggerV'in the desert, a.neighbouring patient in a station^ or"shut 'up in-; a' foreign prison camp,'? he continued. "Is it because you yourself • are not: experiencing these hardships or misfortunes that you cannot realise the need of your help?: If so, j wake up! Be assured that the gift you make to'the-patriotic, fund surely, finds its way to a man in need. .. .Don't argue that the whole.thing should be done by taxation.' It just isn't-' And there are many reasons for saying that your offering is more humanely and much more economically administered under the voluntary • system; While you are arguing about /systems your 'cobber' is going without. something, and, unfortunately, \without something that "your." own decent human generosity would • gladly give^ if only you realised his need. That lack of realisation reveals a want of thoughtful attention:" /'''.' '"-."' After dealing briefly with some of the' work done in- the canips by the Catholic War Services Fund Board and kindred bodies as agents of the National Patriotic • Fund Board, Monsignor Connolly concluded with an appeal to all to give/and give quickly.