£1,000,000 APPEAL

Grey River Argus, 3 October 1940, Page 6

£1,000,000 APPEAL

FOR PATRIOTIC FUND Westland Council discusses campaign Mr G. Perry presided at the monthly meeting of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Council last there were also present Messrs 1 1 . A. Kitchingham, J. Smeaton, J. A. Murdoch, K. O. May, E. R. Elcock, F. Kennedy A. fc. Spiers, J. Mulcare, V. • Clayton, F. H. Denton, A. H. McKane, G. G. M. Mitchell, H. Herring, J. Unwin J. W. Greenslade. J. B. Kent, P. J. McLean, and D. J. Evans (secretary). The secretary reported that toe conference in Wellington was well attended, all provinces except Otago being present. The Governor-General opened the conference which was held on the day the news of the Buckingham Palace bombing reached Wellington. It was decided to donate £lOO,OOO for British Relief, of whictr it was proposed the provinces should find £25,000. The Westland quota was £5OO. On October 14 until the end of November, the big appeal for £1,000.000 would be launched. It was intended that patriotic work should take a holiday for December and January. The fund was principally for rehabilitation and for assistance to dependants. Major Abel who conducted the Sick and Wounded Appeal, would organise the new appeal. The conference spent a lot of time discussing the method of the appeal including the advertising. Broadcasting would be used to a great extent. Some interesting information about the methods of treating Government servants was given. No explicit details of the Government’s rehabilitationscheme could yet be given, but it appeared that a substantial amount of work would fall to the provincial councils. He suggested that the committees in Greymouth, Hokitika and Reefton should be set up immediately. Viery little of the Lady j Galway Guilds’ goods had gone oversea's, 3(>U tons being at presqpt in Auckland. The shipping companies had undci - taken to make space available as quickly as possible. The amount of .work done was really remarkable. They inspected the principal waste depot in Wellington where reclaimed waste in great quantities ■ was coming to hand. Receptacles were placed in various parts of Wellington with notices on them, being collected daily. The Board 1 was taking up the matter of sports gear at the New Zealand camps. A leavy would probably be made on councils. Canterbury had done a great deal m supplying amenities without making a call on other provinces in the South Island. They had plenty of money at present and had no need to make calls. The objections to the quality of wool were general but the best was being done. Mittens were still urgently required, also scarves and balaclavas. The National Board would send a supply of tobacco overseas each quarter. The conference ran very smoothly. Auckland and Wellington sitting together quite happily. ; i The chairman said the council’s thanks were due to Mr Evans for his work and the report he had given. In reply to Mr Kitchingham, Mr

Evans said that the British Relief Appeal was now actually under way. In connection with the appeal for £1.000,000, a meeting of all committees would he* hoped be held at Greymouth on Saturday next. Mr Kitchingham said that he had been to Reefton where he found that there still seemed to be friction between the Red Cross and St. John funds. Mr Evans said it had been made clear that the Red Cross appeal nad definitely closed. r Mr McKane said the friction m Reefton was only lip service between people. Mr Clayton said some companies agreed to take a certain amount from their workers. The money was path to the Red Cross, but no one knew where it went. Mr McKane said it went to the Joint Council of the Red Cross and St. John Fund. That was quite permissible. Weekly and monthly contributions were still coming in and going to the National Fund in Wellington. That was within the bounds of what they were asked to do. There was no public or personal appeal being made. Mr Kitchingham said the period cd the appeal ended months ago and it seemed that the contributors should review their payments. They were neglecting a vital fund. Mr McKane said the Red Cross were blamed for something they were not doing. Mr Kennedy said that in Runanga parties donated to both the Red Cross and Patriotic Funds. Mr Kitchingham said that the 2 per cent levy on Westland was on a population basis. Where concerns made big donations to the National Funds the provinces got no part of it. They were at a disadvantage on a population basis The Bank of New Zealand’s donation was to be credited to the different provinces. He asked if they had received the allocation. Mr Evans ..aid that they had not done so far. The Wellington funds were all spent. In reply to Mr McKane, the secretary said that the National Fund Board had sent £lOO,OOO to London out of its own funds. Mr McLean said the appeal should go on straight away. Mr Mitchell asked if the moneys remitted to headquarters for the Red Cross Sick and Wounded Fund went into the National Patriotic Funds. The Secretary: I understand so. The secretary in reply to Mr McLean said that in future there -would be only the one fund. Mr Smeaton said they should go on with the appeal for distressed. Mr Murdoch sa'id that the council should go round and visit all centres. People would not come to them Mr Evans said that it would be better to have all.committees represented so that the whole appeal could be explained. Mr McKane said that all committees were working excellently and he did not think they,.could raise more than they wei?e ' doing now. The contributors mainly were giving weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Mr Kitchingham said that the only thing he couid point out was that at this end they should pool their efforts and funds. Mr Kent. In the town it is that competition that is raising the fund.

Mr Greenslade said that the full reasons for the appeal should be outlined to the public and Westland had to raise £20.000 on a population basis, which was not a fair allocation. They were only a working community and

£lO,OOO would be &’ great amount. The incidence of the allocation was wrong Were they to. stop further collections for local founds? The secretary: It is all one fund. Mr Greenslade: The public want to know if it all goes to Wellington and will be sent overseas or will it be used partly for the rehabilitation of the men. The public wants to see our local boys looked after by local tunas. To have a decent fund here we want at least £50,000. Mr Kent: Are we going to have this hashed up again. I thought that it had been fully explained and cleared up. Mr Greenslade sa'id he was sorry that on his first appearance he was raising a question' which had been discussed before. Mr Evans pointed out that no money went to Wellington unless authorised by the Provincial Council. The chairman said that the Westland Council objected to a previous national appeal. Now each provincial council would control the amount tor its own purposes. Mr Kent: It is a pity this parochialism should be raised again. Mr Greenslade objected. “That’s a lot of bunk.” Mr Smeaton said -that the various committees created a suspicion. Mr Kitchingham: How much has the Council raised and what has it done to raise it. Mr Kent said that as individuals they had done a lot. They should not cast aspersions on the Council. I Mr McKane: This Council was never set up to raise funds. Mr Kitchingham: That’s what M.r Smeaton attacks. Mr Smeaton said that he had done nothing of the sort. The proper thing was to set up the committees as the Government originally 'suggested. There would then have been no overlapping. Mr Evans said that no delay in the Government’s rehabilitation scheme was holding things up. Mr Smeaton: Has any Government in the British Empire announced its scheme. \ Mr Evans: I don’t know. Mr Herring said that one appeal to find sufficient to supply what w--'s required at national headquarters should be aimed at. The chairman: That is what we are doing. Mr Mitchell moved that the district representatives be requested to convene meetings in their own area's Io explain the £1,000,000 appeal. Mr Kitchingham asked if a meeting was held in Greymouth, would Brunner and Runanga be represented. Messrs Smeaton and Kennedy agreed that they would. Mr Clayton said that he did not think they could get a penny extra at Reefton if they held meetings or set up more committees. Mr Kitchingham said that it was proposed only to “ginger” the committees. Mr Mulcare asked what Mr Kitcningham proposed about the Grey County. Would it make any improvement to combine with Greymouth? Mr Kitchingham sa'id there was no question of combining the committees. There was not as much co-operation as they should have. The chairman said that if they were going to set abo”t reorganisation they would only create contusion. They hao established order, and things were proceeding satisfactorily.

Mr Smeaton said tnat Mr Evans' suggestion that a few members of each committee could have the appeal explained to them. The chairman said he saw Mr

Srneaton’s point of view and considered that it was a good one. Mr Smeaton moved as an amendment that local committees meet on Saturday. Mr Murdoch seconded the amendment. Mr Mitchell said they were not facing the issue. Probably not 25 per cent would attend such a meeting. Mr May agreed with Mr Mitchell saying if the representatives could not explain rhe position they should not be there. Mr Elcock said that at the other meeting there would be only representatives again. Mr Mulcare said there was a big distinction in the Grey County wnere committees were widely separated. The amendment was carried and on becoming the motion was carried on the voices. The following contributions have been received by the Council to Ist October. 1940? — Amount previously acknowledged £11,203 14s 3d; Kumara- Red Cross Branch £2l; Houston Timbers Ltd. (fortnightly) £1 15s; Harihari Committee £7 17s sd; Hokitika Savings Bank (monthly) £10; Grey County Committee £V>5 7s Id; Inanganua Committee £29 19s 3d; Hokitika Committee £36 4s 3d; Anonymous (Sale of Jewellery) 14s; Greymouth Motor Car Raffle £1750. Spitfire Fund (adiditional): F. Preston and Sops £10; Hokitika- Golf Club (ladies) £2 10s; A. H. Adamson (bullock) £l5 17s lid. Sick and Wounded Fund: Ross Committee £ll- War Expenses? Waitaha Settlers (additional) £l6. British Relief Fund: E. W. Green £2 2s; “Old Chelsea Boy” 10s; Inangahua' County Council £l6; Grey County Council £10; Westland County Council £lO. Christmas Parcels: Harihari Committee £2 10s; Miss Park, Miss Wilson £1; Mr and Mrs T. Stuart 10s; Ross Committee £3 3s; Anonymous 3s 6d; Koiterangi Committee £3; Franz Josef Committee £2. Lady Galway Guild: Kumara Red Cross £2 Is 6d. Total £13,268 18s 9d. Accounts paid and approved were: National Fund, wool T4s 2d; Treasurer petties £6 4s; Hokitika Committee £23 10s 6d; Welcome Club, Christchurch £10; Inangahua Committee £l3 14s 8d; Tobacco, Christmas supply £56 0s Id; Relief IDs; Secretary, Expenses to Wellington £(' 17s 8d; Inangahua Committee, imprest £5O; Brunner Committee 18s sd; Total £417 9 S 6d. Payments approved were:— Cross and J'oint Council £2 17s 6d; War Relief, Sick and Wounded £lB6 Ils; Spitfire Fund £298 7s 6d; War , Expenses (treasury) £l6; Grey Women's Committee £55 0s sd; Hokitika Committee £74 8s 7d; Preston and Sons £4O 7s 6d; toal £673 12s 6d. The secretary said that the balance in the account was about £lO,OOO. The investment of the funds was left to the discretion of the chairman and secretary. The National Board advised that nominee rolls for the First and second Echelons were now in course of preparation; that sales tax articles lor export to troops were exempt from tax; setting out particulars of the ; Provincial appeal for £25,000; forwarding posters for the British Relief Appeal. ' j The Lady Galway Guild, Welling- i ton. advised that part worn clothes ! were useless unless in fit- condition i for wear. Appreciation of the work of the provinces was also expressed.

The Greymouth Lady Galway Guild wrote asking for permission to spend the amount received for the postmen’s drive, so that goods could be purchased.

The Secretary said some assistance in regard to expenses had been given. New goods could not be purchased.

The Canterbury Council wrote thanking the Council for its offer of assistance for sports gear. The secretary said that'th e National Board was taking the matter up. The Camp Commandant, Burnham in reply to the Council’s inquiry as to the issue of goods to men in camp, suggested that gifts be presented to the men at functions marking their final leave, instead of forwarding them to the < amps. Air Force Relations, Wellington, forwarded 61bs of wool for black un-der-gauntlet gloves for airmen, together with patterns. The secretary said that 31bs went to Greymouth and 3 to Hokitika The National Boa«rd and the Director Self Help Co-op. Ltd., wrote offering £25 worth of groceries for a raffle for the provincial funds. The Greymouth Committee wrote recommending that £2O be donated to the Union Jack Club, Christchurch. The proposal was agreed to.

The Hokitika R.S.A. wrote nominating Mr J. 3. Bain to the district rehabilitation committee.

Mr Kitchingham reported that the Greymouth Committee consisted of the Mayor, Messrs McKane and F. W. Baillie.