WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 209, 2 August 1940, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

PATRIOTIC ENDEAVOUR. A review of the work already effinc and an indication of what was requir 1 I the future in the way of patriotic effortwas given by A 1 r G. A. Hayden, , tary of the National Patriotic lund Board, in an address to representatives n the patriotic and Hed Cross Olga 1 tions in Woodville yesterday afterno in. The Mayor (Mr U. U. « Johnston), who presided, welcomed Mr Hayden a also the Mayor of Dannevirke (Mr Gibbard), the Dannevirke town clei (Mr W. G. Holloway) and Dannevirke country clerk t (Mr D. L. Crookes), accompanied tlie secretary. Mr Hayden dealt with the organisation set up under the Patriotic 1 Emergency Regulations, stating that there were three distinct bodies—the National Patriotic Council, the National Patriotic Fund Board, and -the Provincial I alriotie Councils. The National Council was an advisory body only in that it advise the Minister of Internal Affairs, the National Patriotic Fund Board and the eleven provincial councils. The work ot the National Patriotic Fund Board, however, came into a quite different categoiy, as .this body was responsible for the aiiministration of the national fund. 1U Hayden refuted the suggestion that had been made that this body was a Government controlled organisation. Actually the Government had no say whatever ill the disposal ,of funds. The only part the Government played in the organisation wa sto pay the salaries of the. secretarial staff and attend to the auditing of the board’s accounts. The board in the early stages had not known whether or not an F.xpeditionary Force would be s eni overseas and in consequence had made only a mild appeal tor funds. However, the aspect of the war had changed as the situation developed overseas and the board had set to \york to provide funds for the various patriotic needs as they arose. At May 27, 1940, donations to the board totalled £225,324 5s 9d, in addition to which contributuisis amounting to £19.55 5s had been made by various provincial patriotic councils to tlio board and the sum of £1382 Is 5d was held in trust for special relief organisations. Up to May 27 the board had expended £59,933 13s 2d. The board’s expenses, representing the whole cost of administration, had totalled £624 15s to the date quoted. Referring to the conference held to define the obligations of the national and provincial funds, Mr Hayden said that, broadly speaking, provision for the welfare ot the men from the lime they left camp until their discharge was the responsibility of the national fund, while it would be the work of provincial councils to care for the men while in camp and on leave. The Sick and Wounded Fund Appeal had met with a magnificent response, and this fund was now more than sufficient forimmediate needs. It would be realised that with the German occupation of Belgium and Northern France no purpose would be served by spending money for relief in these countries, so that the only avenue left for disposal of the Sick and Wounded Fund was by grant to tho British Red Cross. It was therefore sug-r-sinrl that f’e main task of the provincial councils in the immediate future si.ouui be lo proceed with! the building up of a fund, not only for general purposes. but for the rehabilitation of the Iroops on their return at tho expiration of the war. While it was recognised that it was the Government’s job to see that the men were properly repatriated at the close ot the war—and the Government had pledged itself to do all in its power to this end—it was also realised that no Government could act as quickly as could a patriotic body. The scheme proposed was that each committee would have a rehabilitation committee to look after the needs of the men returning to the district. The proposal was that there should be no pre-war domicile stipulation, eacli district being responsible for the nien returning to it irrespective of where they had enlisted. Assistance would be granted in weekly sums from an imprest account provided by the provincial council. To obtain assistance a discharged member of the forces would have to produce his pay-book, in which provision would be made for entry of benefits received, and steps were being taken to ensure that only genuine and necessitous cases received assistance. As a general principle, loans and lump-sum payments were to be discouraged. It was the intention and duty of tho board, tho speaker pointed out, to build up a reserve fund so that when the men returned the hoard’s funds would be a reservoir from which assistance would be available for all of tho provinces. In conclusion. Mr Hayden said the patriotic organisations were endeavouring to administer the regulations not as regulations, but as a guide to proper handling of the moneys received and that was the whole spirit behind patriotic work in the Dominion. Mr Hayden answered numerous questions at the close of his address. One point he emphasised was that as from May 27, 1940, the Government had agreed to take tho responsibility for payment of salaries of the secretarial staff, office expenses and freight on parcels.. The Mayor thanked Mr Hayden for his address and assured him that full use would be made of the information imparted, especially by the ladies of the district, who were particularly well organised and doing excellent work -