N.Z. PATRIOTIC FUND

Grey River Argus, 8 November 1939, Page 2

N.Z. PATRIOTIC FUND

Lord Galway BROADCASTS AN APPEAL. WELLINGTON, November 7. ' I In a broadcast speech, the Govern- ; or-General, appealing in aid of the ; National Patriotic Fund to-night said: Ladies and Gentlemen, —This ’ evening I speak to .you as chairman ' of the National Patriotic Fund Board ’ to appeal for your support on behalf ’ of this National Patriotic Fund which f is placed under public supervision iand control. On previous occasions during my tenure of office as Govern- ; or-General of this Dominion i have , • appealed to your generosity - in con- ( nection with the Health Stamp Campaign and in connection with the King George V National Memorial . Fund. Your gracious response to ’ those- appeals, which I now most | readily acknowledge, was really | splendid. I believe, however, that [I this is the most important appeal of , l any I have made, and I feel that my call to you now will meet with ar. J even greater response. In these cir- ’ icumstances of war in which we find . I ourselves, we are prepared to face !resolutely all the resultant sacrifices. , 'Our entire resources of men and mataerial may yet be marshalled before we can safely say that we have preserved those principles of civilised government upon which alone per- [ manent peace on earth may be es- | tablished. New Zealand, in common I with her sister members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, has , embarked upon this noble purpose jwith magnificent determination, and ,1 am aware that you will not count j the cost. The National Patriotic [Fund is an essential part of that cost. Its creation and the wise expenditure of moneys subscribed mean so much in maintaining the high morale of our Forces. How valuable in war 2 that high standard is, none knows 2 better than those who have the res- ' possibility of leading our armies in the field. The thought behind the gifts, the contact these mean with '• the people at home, in the far North • or the far South, or even the seas, '• add more to the spirit and endeavour cl our sailors, soldiers and airmen than can be expressed adequately in '• words. And in this connection I must also mention our prisoners of > war—those of our brave men who, as a result of too close contact with the ■ enemy, or through misfortune, now find themselves in the prison camps , of the enemy. Most of you have some > knowledge of the discomforts and privations suffered by our soldiers in - the last war. > Our men in camps here and already '■ serving abroad, in their sacrifices for t democracy will be called upon to endure hardship, face perils—brave great dangers. To them, therefore, we who remain behind owe not only our gratitude, but a tangible expression of that gratitude. We owe it to them to bring a measure of comfort and cheer to a lightening of their burden. It is for those that T appeal. I can give you the confident assurrance that your gifts will reach those for whom they are intended in tne most acceptable manner and in the way they will be most appreciated. The National Patriotic Fund Board has, as the title suggests, a national responsibility. It is charged with the' duty of securing those funds and goods which will be spent or distributed through National agencies sucn as the Joint Council of the Order of St. J'ohn and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, the Y.M.C.A., the Salvation Army and other organisations operating on a national scale as well 1 as by direct action. 1 The National Fund now establish- 1 ed will not in any way conflict with, < but, on the other hand, will be en- i tirely supplementary to efforts made •. by the eleven Provincial Councils. I Steps are being now taken by means «

of a conference of Provincial Councils and the National Board and National Council to secure effective cooperation between the National Board and these Provincial Councils. I desire to make it clear that there will be no other element in the relations between the National Board and the Provincial Councils than that of complete co-operation. Already the National Board has made expenditure and engaged in work for the Forces in camp whereby very necessary comforts and amenities have been and are being supplied. Further calls for such and widerwork can hardly yet be estimated ' and we can only be prepared for whatever need may arise. I am therefore asking for an immediate subscription of a generous nature so that this work may go on steadily to the j attainment of its objective. | Donations to the National Patriotic Fund may be paid through your 'own bank to the credit of the National Patriotic Fund at the Reserve Bank. Your own branch bank will remit your subscription, because of the generous courtesy of the Associated Banks, free of exchange. Alternative- ■ ly, your donations may be made i through the Editor of any newspaper, i paid into any branch of the Post Office Savings-bank on your instrucI tion to remit it to the credit of the National Patriotic Fund Board, or {sent direct to the Reserve Bank to j be credited to the Board. That your response will be generous I know. I am confident that you fully appreciate the sacrifices our rnen are making. I know your sympathise with them —that you are anxious to show your sympathy—anxious to brighten their lot. I feel I need not stress the matter. I know from my own experience of them that the people of New Zealand—one and all—will make every reasonable sacrifice within their power in order that assistance and com- I fort may be provided for the defenders of their homes, their country and ' their Empire. I thank you.