PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 23726, 6 November 1940, Page 11

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

APPEAL FOR LONDON DISTRESS FUND Tho bi-monthly meeting of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council held yesterday afternoon was attended _by Messrs J. J. Marlow (in the chair), Edgar Hazlett, W. B. Taverner, J. L. Salmond, H. L. Gibson, VV. G. Kindley, Arthur Barnett, W. R. Clarke, James Hogg, J. Sutherland Ross, John Bennetts (Tuapoka), D. H. Cockburn (Lakes zone), J. R. Copland (Balclutha), James Ritchie (Vincent), F. W. Mitchell, H. L. Paterson, J. M. Wliite, Dr W. Newlands. Mr Hazlett presented the report of the Finance Committee, which stated that accounts totalled £365 2s 7d, of which £279 was for the purchase of wool. QUEEN CARNIVAL. Mr Barnett, on behalf of the Queen Carnival Committee, said that a full report would be brought forward at the next meeting, but in the meantime he wished to pay a warm tribute to the queens, tho princesses, Mr A. C. Cameron( the chairmen and members of .the various committees, and, indeed, everybody connected with the appeal. He had never before contacted such a wonderful lot of workers. Their efforts had resulted in between £50,000 and £60,000 being raised. Mr Kindley said that a tribute was duo, also, to Mr Barnett for his leadership. His inspiration and enthusiasm from the word “ go ” had ensured the success of the movement. Mr Ritchie, Mr Bennetts, Mr Cockburn, and Mr Copland, _ the country delegates, expressed their warm appreciation of the efforts of Mr Barnett and his helpers. AIR FORCE BAND. Mr Hogg outlined the arrangements which had been made for the parade of the Air Force in Dunedin on Friday evening. This would be the first full parade of the R.N.Z.A.F. (Taieri Station) said Mr Hogg, and it would be led by the Air Force Band from Rongotai Station (Wellington), under the control of Flight-lieutenant Gladstone Hill. A concert would be held in the Town Hall after the parade, which would start at 7 o’clock. UNFAIR TREATMENT ALLEGED. Dr Newlands, reporting on behalf of the Soldiers’ Emergency Committee, quoted a case in which a soldier had been discharged as unfit from camp after an operation for appendicitis, receiving only 14 days’ pay. This soldier had served in the last war, and had left a lucrative position to volunteer again It was most unfair treatment, said Dr Newlands, and ho wondered whether the Defence Department was aware of such cases.

Mr White supported Dr Newlands’s protest. The man was really still _ a member of the forces, as his final discharge would not be effected until he had undergone further examination; therefore he should be receiving pay or pension from the Government. His was not a responsibility that should be placed upon the Patriotic Council. Mr Paterson mentioned that there bad been the same trouble in other centres. He thought that representations should be made to the Government through the National Patriotic Council. It was resolved to make representations as suggested through the National Council. DOMINION-WIDE APPEAL. Major J. Abel, honorary Dominion organiser for the National Patriotic Fund Board for the million pounds appeal, attended the meeting and explained that the desire was that Otago should co-operate in the Dominion-wide appeal which was to raise funds for rehabilitation and after-care of soldiers and for the relief of .distress in London ; Otago’s effort to be confined to co-operation in the London section of the appeal, this to be to the extent of £IO,OOO. It was resolved to co-operate with the Dominion organisation in ■ the newspaper and radio appeal on behalf of London ; this to be an effort quite apart from the Spitfire fund appeal.