PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

Evening Star, Issue 23500, 14 February 1940, Page 4

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

FORMATION AT PORT CHALMERS At a public meeting held last night at Port Chalmers the mayor (Mr T. Scollay) in the chair, a combined patriotic committee was formed to be linked up with the Dunedin District Controlling Committee, the mayor as chairman and Mr T. Armstrong as secretary. The committee will have a women’s section of 12 ladies, of whom the mayoress will be chairwoman pro tern, and Mrs W. D. Sutherland secretary. The men’s section will have Mr D. Forsyth as chairman and Mr Armstrong as secretary. Mr O. Blackman, town clerk, was appointed treasurer to take charge of all money raised and transmit it to headquarters. The Mayor explained the functions of the National Council and National Board which will have charge of all money raised for our troops overseas. The provincial councils will have charge of money raised' for the soldiers while they are in New Zealand and on troopships proceeding overseas. The position was discussed and local arrangements put in hand. The meeting was of opinion that all money raised locally should bo handed over to the Provincial Council and all instructions received through that body. That would simplify the procedure, as the local committee would have to deal with the provincial organisation only instead of having to deal with Wellington as well. It was also decided to ascertain whether the money about to be raised by the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army would be used to finance other religious bodies also carrying out work for the welfare of our troops at the front. When collections were being carried out by various organisations appointed for that purpose it was understood that such organisations would themselves organise and carry out the collections, the patriotic committees to assist, but not to bo responsible beyond rendering assistance. The Mayor said he was pleased to see Mrs A. Cunningham present, as that, lady acted as treasurer for the local Patriotic Committee throughout tho last war.