PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 June 1942, Page 8

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN'S ELECTION INVALID

It was reported, at last evening’s meeting of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Council, that the election of Mr. F. A. Kitchingham (Mayor of Greymouth) as Chairman, in succession to the late Mr. G. A. Perry (Mayor of Hokitika) was invalid. .According to the regulations, the Mayor of Hokitika is the permanent Chairman of the Council, ana the nosition therefore goes to Mr. A. R. Elcock, who was recently appointed Mayor of Hokitika. Mr. Kitchingham therefore declared Mr. Elcock (who was elected deputy-Chairman at the. previous meeting) to be the statutory Chairman.

: Mi-. Kitchingham was elected as deputy-Chairman, and, in the absence of Mr. Elcock, he presided over I last evening’s meeting. There were also present: Messrs J. O’Brien, M.P., J. Smeaton, J. A. Murdoch, T. G. Jamieson, J. B. Kent, K O. May, F. H. Denton, A. B. Spiers, W. Clayton, E. W. Kennedy, J. Mulcare, T. E. Coates, M. H. Houston, A. 11. McKane, and D. J. Evans (secretary). The Hokitika Patriotic Committee notified the appointment of Mr. Houston to (ill the vacancy on the Council. A welcome was extended by I Mr. Kitchingham to the new member. ,

The National Patriotic Fund Board advised that the Girl Guides’ Association has undertaken as its effort, to raise £2,400 to pay for four huts, to be erected in military camps, and to be named Trefoil Hut’s.

An explanation from the Navy Secretary, respecting the issue of parcels to naval personnel at sea, was received from the Board, which also advised: That there was delay in the manufacture of holders for razor blades, but the manufacturer had been' asked to give the Westland request priority. That supplies of hussifs should be sent to the Chief Ordnance Officer. Regarding the issue of essential woollen comforts to men in the Armed Forces in New Zealand, asking that returns be sent in quarterly. Notifying the sale of rare books for the Patriotic Fund, and asking co-operation in securing such books. I Explaining the position regarding the purchase of future supplies for gift parcels through the Food Controller. In connection with gift parcels, Mr. Houston moved, on behalf of the Hokitika Patriotic Committee, that all such parcels be packed at a main centre. Mr. Houston said that the Committee considered it would be better if the goods were purchased from wholesalers in Wellington, and packed there, thus saving freight charges' from various districts. Concluding a discussion on the subject, Mr. Kitchingham said that, in any case, it was a matter of policy for the National Board, and nothing could be done until the question was considered by that body. Mr. Spiers seconded Mr. Houston’s motion, but it was defeated, on the voices. Arising out of the ideas expressed, Mr. Kitchingham suggested that Mr. O’Brien might explore the possibilities of sending money instead of parcels, to soldiers overseas. New Zealand Breweries, Wellington, forwarded a donation of £5O, to the Council’s proportion of the £lOOO contributed to the All Purposes Appeal. “GOING TOO FAR.’’ After reporting that balaclavas, scarves, and mittens had been distributed to those members of the 17th Independent Infantry Company Greymouth, who required such comforts, Mr. Kitchingham said that a further question had cropped up. An application for similar articles had been received from the members of the staff engaged in the Army Office at Greymouth, who said that they had to work all hours at night. The Women’s Patriotic Committee would like a, ruling from the Council. The secretary expressed the opinion that, if the men were classed as part of the Armed Forces, they were entitled to the comforts.

Mr. Kitchingham pointed out that they were not doing outside work. “Except going home in the ‘barber,’ ” said Mr. Evans.

Mr. Kitchingham: The feeling, then, is that they should be treated the same as the others?

Mr. McKane said that the men had their meals at home; they went home every night, and had home comforts He was wondering where the Council was going to stop. In his opinion, the Council would be going a bit too far if it granted such an application. On the motion of Mr. May, the matter was held over, for further inquiries. That the question of providing sports gear was one for the decision of Provincial Councils, was the opinion expressed in a letter from the National, Board. The Marlborough Council wrote, suggesting that Westland might provide for the purchase of football togs for 45 players. The Greymouth Patriotic Committee

I wrote suggesting that the ruling of I the National Board be obtained with 1 reference to the proposed grant of I £25 to the 17th Infantry Company, ! Greymouth, for football togs.—Mr. | Kitchingham said that a resolution I was on the Council’s books, io the I effect that no action be taken. Mr. iEvans said that the National Secretary (Mr. Hayden) was to have placed the matter before the Canteen Board, but a reply had not yet been received. APPEAL FOR FUNDS In exhorting every committee to maize a determineci drive for funds, Mr. Kitchingham said that the total levy for the district was £13,912, but just over £7,000 had been raised, although eight months of the year had gone. Hokitika and Ross had exceeded their quotas, but the other portions of the district had a long way to go in the remaining four montlis. If the people-of the district were not prepared to contribute for the benefit of the men overseas, they had not the interests of the Army or th., country at hem t. Such apathy was I the personification and crystallisation of selfishness in its most-pure form. He asked die representatives of each portion of the district to put their weight into the task of raising the required money. The financial statement showed revenue lor May £1,124/1/1. payments i £998/12/3. Fund balances: Deposits at banks £23,286/u/8, current acI count £B9B/2/3, loud £24,184/7/ 11. Levies uccutini: Paid to Muy 31, £8,063, due bv September 30. j £ 5,061. Levies: Paid lu Muy 31 (amount of levy shown in parentheses): Greymouth Borough, £2402/3/3 (£4,446). Hokitika Borough, £1,992/17/7 (£ 1,433). Westland County, £730 12/- ( £2,592). Inangahua County, £598/0/11 (£1,58i). Grey County, £241/14/2 (£2,489). Ross Borough, £l7B/18/- (£14.0). Runanga Borough, £77/4/2 (£583). Kumara Borough, £3O (£124). Brunner Borough, £5/18/7 (£513). N.Z. Railways staff, £305/14/1. Interest on deposits, £285/0/5. National Board, £136/17/5. N.Z. Breweries. £5O. Miscellaneous, £3/15/10. Total levy. £13,912. Total paid, £7,047/16/5.