N.Z. SOCIETY

Grey River Argus, 25 February 1942, Page 7

N.Z. SOCIETY

For Closer Relations With Russia The Greymouth branch of the above Society has received the following report from Head Office, Wellington: — Medical Aid to the Soviet: With regard to a Dominion-wide appeal, it was reported that it was impossible to secure any co-opera-tion until after the main patriotic drive had been concluded. All Societies (the Joint Council of Red Cross and St. John, as well as other major societies) agreed that no individual appeal would be made and that all would work for the General Fund, and, this being so, it would be impossible for them to assist in a specialised appeal.

It must be remembered that the Government donated ,£5OOO to the U.S.S.R. on October 22, 1941; on the same date the Patriotic Board gave £2OOO from the Sick and Wounded Fund, and on November 13 this was increased by a further £3OOO, so that a total of £lO,OOO has already gone to the Soviet from New Zealand. In addition, early in December a substantial gift of goods was made available by the board to a visiting Soviet ship, namely:— 421 dozen knitted woollen scarves. 417 dozen knitted woollen baliaclavas. 417 pairs knitted woollen mittens. These gifts indicate that there is

no hesitancy on the part of the board to express their sympathy with our Ally in tangible form. Under the circumstances, it has been decided by the Executive that all Branches of the Society be urged to co-operate in the raising of the sum allocated for their respective areas by the National Patriotic Fund Board. We are certain that if our assistance is given willingly and energy is put into the campaign for the National Patriotic Fund Board by all the branches, there will be no difficulty in securing a special appeal for our specific purposes at a later date. With the approval of the board we would engaged in a wide series of activities —such as social evenings, lectures, public entertainments, fairs, bazaars, exhibitions, etc—all of which would give us an opportunity not only of raising funds for a very necessary purpose, but also of demonstrating the sincerity of our Society and of making known to the public more of the wonderful effort being made by the people of the U.S.S.R. , ilii Special Fund £6OO from Wellington Division: It was decided to donate £l5O to the N.Z. Federation of Labour’s Ambulance Fund, the remaining £450 to be donated; to Mrs Winston Churchhill’s Fund, through the National Patriotic Fund Board. The £l5O has already been paid to the N.Z. Federation of Labour, and their receipt obtained for same.