PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 12

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE QUESTION OF SEPARATE APPEALS A meeting of the executive of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council was held this morning, the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) in the chair. The Chairman explained that the reason for calling the meeting at short notice was the receipt of a joint request by the Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army for support and assistance in a Dominion appeal for' the purposes of raising a sum of £IOO,OOO to be expended for the welfare of the men serving at the front, as had been done during the last war, when £565,000 had been spent. The Mayor added that he had since been waited upon by a deputation representing the two bodies named, which had asked for authority to proceed in order to enable them to conclude their effort by March 16. He had pointed out to the deputation that the provincial council had not yet made an appeal on its own behalf, and until this matter had been completed, the authority asked for could not be considered, as to grant it in the meantime would cause confusion.

Considerable discussion took place regarding this matter, the Mayor pointing out that no reply had been received from the Minister of Internal Affairs to communications sent him respecting matters of importance. He (the mayor) considered that the position as to the respective functions of the provincial council and the national fund should be clarified for the benefit of the public. Mr J M. White expressed the opinion that the appeal by the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army would not interfere with the general appeal by the council, as it would' be made through different channels.

Sir Percy Sargood questioned _ whether, under the gazetted _ conditions covering the fund, the provincial council had complete control in regard to authority in the matters under discussion. >

The Mayor, stating that he had yesterday again forwarded an urgent letter to the Minister, suggested that the matter of the request by the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Array be held over. He wished to make it clear, however, that there was no desire on his part to place obstacles in _ the way of the efforts of those bodies. It was left to the mayor to proceed in the matter as soon as a favourable reply was received from the Minister and from the National Fund. RURAL COMMITTEES. Advice that local Patriotic Committees had been formed at Tuapeka and Outram was noted. A HANDSOME RESULT.

The Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association forwarded a cheque for £I,OOO as an instalment of the money collected on the occasion of the Flag Day last Friday. The Mayor remarked that he noticed that the secretary of the association had stated that the collection would probably reach £2,000. This, said His Worship, was most gratifying. Mr ; White was askecLto -convey the council’s warmest thanks to his association. A suitable acknowledgment would be sent it tfrhen the details had been completed. The North Otago District Patriotic Committee wrote notifying that a sum of £274 16s was in hand as the result of the recent collection, and that the total would probably ultimately exceed £3oo.—Noted with expressions of pleasure. > The Green Island Borough Council forwarded £lO as a donation to the funds. —Received with thanks. A ST. KILDA CONTRIBUTION. The St. Kilda Beach Improvement Society wrote offering its _ assistance and suggesting that a carnival be run by it at Easter, full proceeds to be devoted to the council’s funds.' Mr A Barnett expressed _ the fear that local carnivals of. this nature might interfere with the success of a big combined effort to be made later. Sir Percy Sargood. oh the other hand, was of the opinion that they had to “ beat the drum” and to give the public every opportunity to contribute money to the fund. It was decided to accept the offer made by the Improvement Society. OFFER DECLINED. Mr R. H. Stillwell wrote offering to organise a New Zealand 100th birthday ball, the net proceeds to be devoted to the patriotic fund.—After some discussion the offer was declined. FINANCE. The secretary (Mr R. A. Johnston) reported that the present credit balance amounted to £2,313 4s 9d. PUBLICITY. It was resolved that permission be given to the Publicity Committee co-opt the services of any suitable citizens.