PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1942, Page 6

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

MONTHLY M’EETING. The Westland Provincial Patriotic Council held its monthly meeting last evening. Mr. A. R. Elcock (Mayor of Hokitika') presided, and there were present: Mrs. F. W. Shallcnass, Messrs P. J. McLean. J. Smeaton, T. E. Coates: E. AV. Kennedy. T. G. Jamieson, J. O’Brien, J. B. Kent, K. 0. .May, W. Clayton. M. Houston, J. W. Greenslade, F. H. Denton and D. J. Evans (Secretary). The Treasurer’s report stated: It wTI be seen that Greymouth, Hokitika, Ross and Kumara have achieved more than their full quotas—Hokitika and Ross substantially more. Of the counties, Westland recovered 78 per cent, and Inangahua 76, both raising substantial sums over scattered districts. The experience gained should ensure more complete organisation for the new year, and with Mr. Carl Hende’s donation of a handsome shield, Westland County is organising a competition over its 20 committees. the holding of the shield to be decided each quarter. Interest stimulated in other groups should greatly aid steady collections, which will be needed in no less volume with more men oh active service, and other liabilities equally' increased. The total collections were 94 per cent, of the sum required, which, with accrued interest (£290) to credit; and about £250 still to come to credit for the pa'st year, over 98 per cent, will have been raised. # The result can be considered satisfactory, and thanks are due to, all who assisted in achiev- ■ ing the total. The levy for 1942-43 will be determined by the November Conference to be held at Wellington. The constitution of the councils will be reorganised also at the conference, after which the new councils will be constituted.

The receipts for the month were reported as having totalled, £1852/12/7, made up as follows:—Office payments £39/15/10: Greymouth Harbour Board £200; Hokitika Committee £304/5/1; Grey County Committee £66/12/-; Inangahua County Committees £346/1/ 1: Westland County Committees £298/ 19/10; Brunner Committee £5l/14/; Greymouth Committee £413/19/9; Ross Committee £35/14/-; Runanga Committee £lO/3/6; Kumara' Committee £2O: National Board (Girl Guides) £45/7/6. Payments for the month totalled £2152/3/8, made up as follows: Printing for levies, £27/15/-; Gift parcels, supolies £72/16/11; Committees jor ourcbases £42/10; Inangahua, Imprest £9/11/3; National Board. fin ,v l of levy £2OOO. Receipts were as follows (levies in brackets): — Grovmouth Borough (£4446) £4549/16/11; Hokitika Borough (£1433) £2768/2/11; Ross Borough (£145) £3lB/9/8; Kumara Borough (£124) £127/9/8; Brunner Borough (£513) £136/2/4; Runanga Borough (£583) £ll5/12/9; Inangahua County (£1587) £1209/15/3;. Grey County (£2489) £6Bl/5/7; Westland County (£2592) £2042/8/4; N.Z. Railwav Staff £423/18/-; National Board £413/15/8: Interest on Deposits £285/ 0/5: N.Z. Breweries £5O; Miscellaneous £5/6/6. The total for the district £13.127/4/-. out ,of a levy of £13,912. had been for the year a decline of £1920/14/6.

Mr. Smeaton referred to’the difficulty of collecting money.

Mr. Clayton raised the question of the need for committies to do their own canvassing. Mr. May asked if Mr .Clayton was converted to his view that a tax should be imposed for funds for patriotic purposes. Mr. Greenslade said that it was a duty to ra’se funds for the men overseas.

Mr. Smeaton said that he was rather astounded to read about the Irek of contributions to the fund from the mining community. The miners had to help each other in their community, and often had to pay out for this purpose. He cons’dered that their exemption from. Home Guard service was justified. The National Patriotic Fund Board wrote stating that orders for sugar or glucose Would have to go through the Rationing Officer at Wellington. The Board also wrote stating that it had been decided to alter the name of the local rehabilitation committees to that of Welfare Committees. Other communications from the Board stated that the regimental order concerning sports gear had been placed in the hands of the respective companies. Replacements were to be made at the cost of the regimental funds.

Messrs Elcock, ,Evans. May, , and O’Brien were appointed to attend, the November conference of Patriotic Councils after some discussion on the point. Mr. O’Brien said that he was against a patriotic levy being taken, and he might be in opposition to Mr.