PATRIOTIC WORK WESTLAND COUNCIL MEETS.

Grey River Argus, 2 December 1943, Page 2

PATRIOTIC WORK

WESTLAND COUNCIL MEETS.

Mr. A. R. Elcock presided over a meeting of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Council last evening. Also present were Mrs. F. W. Shallcrass, Messrs F. A. Kitchingham, J. A. Murdoch, F. H. Denton, K. O. May, J. W. Greenslade, W. Green, W. Clayton, E. W. Kennedy, J. Unwin, C. Hart, (J. J. Hutchison, and D. J. Evans (secretary). ' The chairman extended a welcome to Messrs Hart and Hutchison, representing the Hokitika branch of the Returned Services’ Association

The Food and Rationing Controller wrote stating that surplus stores for gift parcels must not be disposed of privately without reference to the Controller.

The Canterbury Education Board wrote forwarding £l4B 13s 6d for school gift parcels which had been collected from schools on the West Coast.

The Department of Internal Affairs wrote notifying that £157 10s was available from art union proceeds. This sum was forwarded by Messrs Hammond and McArthur, Ltd. Mrs. M. Mosley, Hon Secretary of the Waiuta Red Gross Society, wrote reporting activities in reply to outside complaints that the district was not doing its share, and suggesting that the Miners’ Union organisation be asked- to take up patriotic work, and regretting that the chairman of the Countv Committee, a resident of the district, had not shown local interest. Mr. Clayton said that what Mrs. Mosley said regarding the work of the Red Cross was quite true. However, he understood that the Reefton committee was making arrangements with the Waiuta Committee and the matter .would probablv be straightened out all right again. s Mr. Greenslade said he thought that it it were or°-anised in the proper wav they would give a good response. It was decided to ask the Inangahua Committee to do what they could to co-operate. A progress report was received from the Joint Council Commissioner in the Middle East. The chairman, who with Hon. J. O’Brien had represented the Council at the recent Dominion conference in Wellington, reported on the conference. A voting scheme had been adopted so that delegates would not have voting power merely according to representation at the conference. Westland' had had three votes. A proposal that all patriotic funds should be collected bv taxation had been sponsored bv Taranaki and seconded b v Westland, Auckland giving able sunport. This had been defeated, however. All proposals, such as that donations to patriotic funds should be deductible for income tax purposes, which really dealt with getting more mone-v out of the Government, had either been withdrawn or defeated. A committee had been set up to consider the Question of a postwar service relief fund. The question of a gratuity to furlough men had been discussed and a remit from the National Council had referred to certain Councils, of which Westland was one, which had not adhered to the policy of the Council in this connection, it was decided that no grants as of right should be made t 0 the men, but that each case should be dealt with on it R merits, n 0 help to be given where none was needed. All Councils agreed to be bound by the policy of the conference. It was agreed that woollen comforts generally should not be given to office staffs. Complaints 'had been made that such people were getting them when men at outposts were going without. It was decided to press for representation on the National Board for each Council not at present represented. Some Welfare Committees had objected to giving to the National Service Department details of help they had given on the ground that the’Department might use it to cm down pensions or other relief the secretary had obtained from Messrs Fraser and Nash an assurance that that would not take place. All realised the necessity for having central records of each man such as this system nrovided. . j A number of suggestions foi rrns ing funds had been considered Rio posals to hold a Miss New Zealand contest and to organise a collection box scheme had been rejected, but it had been decided recommend to the Minister that an Art Union be held and that e xtr a race days be granted for patriotic purposes. Details had also been received of a film “For Ever and a Day,” 35 per cent, of the film hire of which was to go to the I atrlotic F Mr.' Elcock remarked that some of the Councils were paying 2s lid eae for cases for patriotic packages, and that some had boasted that they were paying only Is. ha boasted less loudly, he added when he had told them his Council got them for nothing. The delegates were thanked toi. their attendance and the chairman for his report. ' Mr. Green said he thought Colonel Waite, the Board’s representative recently returned from the Middle East,’ should visit the Councils. There were some pertinent questions he would like to ask him. The .financial statement showed that revenue for November had amounted to £640 3s 9d, made up as follows: Hokitika Savings Bank £10; sporting donation £l4 16s; Runangr.