£1,000,000 APPEAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1940, Page 10

£1,000,000 APPEAL

Why do we need a million pounds for patriotic purposes now, seeing mat we raised more than half a million for the sick and wounded recently? This question was effectively answered this week by the sponsors of the £1,000,000 all purposes patriotic appeal. “I have been asked why we need this money,” said Mr. J. Abel, honorary Dominion Organiser of the appeal. “To anyone who has followed the course of the war and who un-/ derstands the nature of our appeals, this will be obvious. Recently the people of the Dominion generously answered the call of the sick and wounded, and gave more than half a million pounds. Much of this has already been spent in a useful and practical manner, and by far the greater part of if is still in hand. “But this money cannot be used for general patriotic purposes, such as comforts for the troops on active service and in camps, recreational huts, social clubs, entertainments, parcels and sporting requisites. No matter how much money is in the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund, it I has no bearing upon the funds required in the All Purposes Appeal, which cover the threefold objects of rehabilitation, comforts for New Zealand forces overseas and within the Dominion, and relief of air-raid distress in the United Kingdom and the British Empire.” Mr. Abel said that when the Red I Cross money was collected the public were assured that it would be earmarked for the special purpose of the sick, wounded and distressed, under the control of the Joint Council. This pledge had been faithfully observed in the letter and the spirit, and its necessity and usefulness had already been amply illustrated. “That,” Mr. Abel added, “is why we need our £1,000.000 to-day.” Mr. G. Hayden, Secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board,(pointed out that funds collected under the emblem of the Red Cross, precluded any of it being spent on comforts for combatant forces.