N.Z. MAN’S U.S.A. APPOINTMENT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 12 June 1948, Page 6

N.Z. MAN’S U.S.A. APPOINTMENT

Advice has been received in Gisborne of the appointment of Mr. Allan V. Atkins as finance secretary of the Welfare Council of New York City, in which appointment he will be responsible in a large measure for the raising of funds for the extensive work of the councilMr. Atkins, who is a brother of Mrs. P. Robertson. Taruheru, Gisborne, was born in New Zealand and went to the United States in 1929. He arrived within a few days of the Wall street crash which marked the beginning of the slump as far as the American States were concerned. He was hard put to it to find subsistence at that time, but he secured employment in the electrical engineering field, and later developed his capacity for trade exposition management and public relations. He ioinerl the staff of the Finnish Relief Fund in 1939, and later was campaign director l'or the British War Relief Society in the United States, in which post he was active in efforts which raised huge sums in the early years of the conflict.

Subsequently Mr. Atkins served for three years with the Royal Air Force, and later became commerce and industry director for the Greek War Relief Association. He was also active, more recently in the drive for funds tor the Sister Kenny Foundation of New Jersey.