AEROPLANE FUND

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1940, Page 8

AEROPLANE FUND

TO PURCHASE 23 ’PLANES

(Per Press Association —Copyright)

PARLIAMENT BLDGS., Dec. 5, Hon. P. Fraser announced to-day that the total so far received as subscriptions to the aeroplane fund for Britain amounted to £145,607/5/5, contributed as follows (nearest pound) : Northland £SOIO, Auckland £39,599, Taranaki £4625, Hawke’s Bay £6050, Canterbury £6823, Wellington £15,662, Nelson £1592, Marlborough £1298, Westland £747, Otago £529, Southland 21,000. Total, £102,940/8/5. In addition R> the district collection, the following sums were forwarded direct to the Government: New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Coy., £7500; Women’s Division of Farmers’ Upion, £5008; New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, £30,000; European and native residents of Niue Island, £l5B/17/-; total, £42,666/17/-.

At the request ,of the, Mayor of Dunedin the collection in Otago had been deferred, but is now being made.

The appeal generally was launched on the basis of £IOO,OOO (New Zealand currency) to. be donated for the purchase of fighter ’planes. Any balance over this sum to go towards training pilots under the Empire Air Scheme in Canada, or the purchase: of war machines for the defence of New Zealand. The Government'has now decided to donate the whole amount to the' purchase of fighter ’planes having regard to the district collections and the amount contributed by the Meat Board.

A request is being made ‘ for l the purchase of 23 ’planes representing £145,000 already collected, as follows: Northland one, Auckland five, Waikato one, Taranaki one, Hawke’s Bay two, Wellington three, Marlborough-West-land-Nelson v one, Canterbury two, Southland three, epuntry women of New Zealand one, New Zealand three.