PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1940, Page 2

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Westland Province MEETING AT GREYMOUTH Last evening a meeting of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Committee was held at the Greymouth Municipal Chambers, there being present:— Messrs G. A. Perry (chairman), J. B. Kent J. Smeaton, A. R. Elcock, K. O. May,’ G. Eder, F. A. Kitchingham, A. H McKane W. Clayton, T. E. Kennedy G. G. Mitchell, Mrs F. W. Shallcrass and Mr D. J. Evans (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs J‘. O’Brien, M.P. J. Mulcare, J. Unwin, J. A. Murdoch’, and P. J. McLean. The Mayor of Runanga, Mr R. McTaggart wrote acknowledging, the Council’s letter of sympathy in regard to the recent mining disaster. The National Patriotic Fund Board, Wellington, forwarded the statement of finances, also stating that £lOO,OOO would be required through the Provincial Councils not later than March, 1941. A letter from the same, forwarding a report of a conference with the Board and the Red Cross Society, drew attention to a suggestion of having a liaision officer of the Joint Council on the Provincial Council. — It was decided to write the J’oint .Council asking jthem to appoint a representative. , The Board also wrote in regard to the spending of money for sick and wounded and money for rehabilitation, recommending that two members of the Joint Council and two members tof the Provincial Council decide which fund would pay for borderline cases, and stating a national policy was under consideration. The letter also asked for particulars of local cases.

On Mr McKand’s motion, Messrs Gillespie and Whitford of the Joint Council, both of Hokitika, were appointed to the committee, with the chairman and secretary of the Council, to decide borderline cases. The Board also wrote explaining the Customs ruling as to exemption from sales tax, stating tax must be paid, and a drawback claimed. The organiser of the All Purposes Appeal, Wellington, wrote giving particulars of the appeal and of printing matter available,, and suggesting that the slogan, “Heart to Heart Appeal” be dropped as much as possible and substituted by “All Purposes Appeal.” The Lady Galway Guild, Christchurch, wrote acknowledging the receipt of clothing, which was being shipped, and stating that the first consignment reached London in early October.

The Minister of Defence wrote regretting that a tour of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band was not practicable at present, as .the South Island tour had concluded and the band was at present in Auckland. If another South Island tour was contemplated, the band would visit Greymouth. The Air Force Relations, Wellington, wrote stating that they were the sole distributors for Air Force wool, and that more wool would be distributed. The letter asked if the district could deal with six pounds of wool a month.

The Greymouth Patriotic Committee forwarded £1238 13s 9d for patriotic purposes, distributed over different funds. The Committee also wrote recommending the appointment of Mrs Shallcrass to represent the Women’s Branch on the Council.— The chairman’s motion that the recommendation be approved and Mrs Shallcrass be welcomed to the Council was carried. The Committee also wrote suggesting that steps be taken to provide quarters for the entertaining of West Coast troops on leave in Christchurch. Mr Kitchingham said" that the various committees in Christ-

church provided entertainment for the troops on certain nights each week. It was thought that the West Coast coud do something to entertain the troops without putting the burden on the Christchurch people. Mr McKane said that parties from each district proceeded to Christchurch and entertained the troops generally over the week-end. Some* thing outside donations to the two Christchurch clubs could be done to entertain the West Coast troops. Christchurch was doing a great service. The Union Jack Club was managed by men, and the Welcome Club by a women’s committee. The secretary suggested that the Council write to Mrs Dean, of Christchurch, in regard to the organising of the West Coasters in the city, to engage the Welcome Club to entertain the troops. Mr Mitchell moved that the secretary go to Christchurch and organise the ex-Coasters there to discuss the question.—lt was decided to leave the cost of the entertainment to Mr Evans. The Mayor of Ross, Mr K. O. May, wrote proposing that the voluntary system for the collecting of money for the rehabilitation of soldiers be abolished, and a tax of 3d in the £ be substituted. That tax, he said, would raise the sum of £2,000,000 per year. He requested the Council to circularise other councils with a view to urging the Government to adopt this policy. Mr May said that the proposal represented the feeling of his district. He moved that the Council approve of the proposals. Mr McKane said that the Government would collect such money and they would not distribute it so sympathetically as the Council would. Mr Mitchell seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Kent moved as an amendment that the letter be distributed amongst the members of the Council, and brought up for discussion at the next meeting. Mr May withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment, which was carried. The secretary said that procedure for the rehabilitation of soldiers should be arrived at. Some men had already returned from Egypt and England, and would soon be talcing up civil life. Committees had set up, but they had no funds. It was decided to adopt the Christchurch card system for filing the particulars of discharged soldiers, and to communicate with the rehabilitation committees informing them that, on request, an imprest account would be opened by the Council, for the committee’to draw on. Mr McKane suggested- that the Greymbuth Jockey Club be written to, asking them to run a two-days" race meeting, the proceeds of the second day to go to the Council. The receipts for' the month were reported as follows: Collections at 27/11/40, £16,302 18s lOd; Inangahua Committee, £79 Ils lOd; Grey County Committee £46 12s 8d; Grey County (special day), £144 13s 7d; Hokitika Committee, £45 0s 3d; total, £16,618 17s 2d. The payments during the month were: National Fund Board, wool, £159 0s Id; National Fund Board, British relief £8 18s; Hokitika Committee, supplies, £ll Is 6d; Waitaha Committee, tickets, £1 12 s 3d; Greymouth Committee, cigarettes, £5 Ils sd; total. £lB6 3s 3d. The financial position was as follows: Deposits with banks, £12,200; cash at bank, open account, £943 10s 2d: total, £13,143 10s 2d.