PATRIOTIC FUND

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 January 1942, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUND

GREYMOUTH DIRECT APPEAL. Further arrangements for the direct appeal for £3347 in Greymouth for the Patriotic Fund were made at a meeting held last evening and presided over by the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham). Opening the meeting, the Mayor said that the present plan was to raise the money by direct contributions and the suggestion had been made that the whole of the town should be canvassed in one day. There was some objection to that as many of the men would be absent from their homes when called upon. It might be advisable for the collectors to interview selected persons, who might be expected to set a standard for the others. Then, one day could be fixed for the others to be visited. It had to be remembered, of course, that certain bodies of people were making regular contributions, such as the public servants and Borough Council employees. Last year, said the Mayor, £l4OO had been obtained from 60 people, through interviews. Mr. J. O’Brien, M.P., said that, people had many calls on them at present, and he did not think the interviewing of prominent people would bring in as much as last year. National Savings were taking up a good deal of some people’s money. After referring to New Zealand’s war effort, which he said was higher, per capita, than anywhere else, Mr. O'Brien said that more should be done to help the soldiers overseas, but £3347 was a large sum to raise without some form of entertaining. He suggested that a bazaar might be conducted with, perhaps, a collection in addition.

Mr. J. W. Greenslade said the public should first be given the opportunity to give as freely as possible. If all the money needed was not obtained, other steps could be taken.

The opinion that the money could be obtained by a personal canvass was also expressed by Mr. T. P. Ryan. He said that £3347 was not a large amount for a town of 9000 population. A suggestion that a radio appeal should be made first was made by Mr. J. O’Donnell. Further discussion took place on the question of the radio, and the opinion was expressed that it could best be utilised to prepare the way for the appeal. It was finally decided that, as a preliminary to the appeal, addresses be given over the radio. It was left to Mr. O’Brien to arrange the talks, with the Mayor and any others decided upon by the committee. The following committee was set up to arrange the date and other details for the appeal: The Mayor and Mayoress, Mrs. F. W. Shallcrass, Mrs. E. Parfitt, Messrs T. P. Ryan and W. H. Parfitt.

After a discussion regarding the duration of the appeal, it was decided to start it on one day and make every effort to complete it the same day.