PATRIOTIC FUND

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 264, 5 October 1940, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUND

ZONE COMMITTEES MEET. THE £1,000,000 APPEAL. Representatives of patriotic zone committees in the Wellington province conferred in Palmerston Aortli to-day, with Ala jor J- Abel, honorary organiser for New Zealand of the £1,000,000 patriotic appeal, and Hon. Vincent Ward, honorary secretary of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council, on matters connected with the appeal. The nine zone committees in the province cover the following areas: Wellington Afetropolitan, AYairarapa> Wanganui, Palmerston North, Feilding, Horowhenua, Taihape, Taumarunui, and Waimarino. The sum to be raised in the province is £200,000, being 20 per cent, of the total. The delegates were welcomed by the Alayor (Air A. E. Alansford), who presided. In addressing the gathering, Air Ward said he was sure that he would have the co-operation of all in his work. Nobody was seeking kudos, but all aimed to help the patriotic effort. He gave a resume of a visit lie had recently made to the camps in the Wellington province, which fall under the care of tho Wellington Provincial Council. He complimented the zones on the supply of Christmas parcels and said the eight zones had provided about 300 over the number allocated to them (3100 of the total of 6200). These w.cre being finally packed in Wellington for despatch. A suggestion had been advanced for big raffles (with prizes such as houses) to be held one alter the other, with smaller rattles conducted by the committees in the zones. Alajor Abel gave a broad outline of the appeal. He said the sum of £1,000,000 iiad been decided on following a conference of secretaries of patriotic societies. It was then known that the Auckland province had decided to open an appeal for £250,000 and Otago one for £,100,000. On a percentage basis over the whole of New Zealand the total sum arrived at was £1,000,000. if the war continued for 12 months at the same tempo as now, even if £1,000,000 were secured it would all be required. By the end of next year 50,000 men would be away from New Zealand in the three services. By Alareh next there would be an additional 44,000 armed men in New Zealand. In a year’s time there would not be a great deal out of tho £1,000,000 left for rehabilitation if the supply of comforts, etc., was kept up as it was now. The campaign was planned to open on October 14. Major Abel outlined a number of details connected with the publicity for the appeal. He also gave details connected with the subject which would assist in the auditing of the appeal following its completion. in New Zealand this year, according to the Government Statistician, there would be. £111,000,000 paid in salaries and wages and Alajor Abel said he did not think that to raise £1,000,000 in six weeks was impossible. If the appeal were approached in a businesslike way and the public told frankly how long the fund would last, thus giving an indication of how long it would be before tho next appeal was made, the sum was quite within the scope of the public’s capacity to-give-A number of questions were asked and replied to. Alajor Abel said that any money which was to go to Great Britain would certainly go there, an undertaking to this effect having been given by the Alinister of Finance (Hon. AV. Nash). At the close of the meeting the Mayor thanked the visitors for tlieir addresses and a vote of thanks was also accorded them. LONDON FUND. CITY AND COUNTY LIST. £ s. d. Already acknowledged ... 662 3 6 Mrs I. D. Bryce 110 Staff, Collinson and Cunningliame, Ltd. 10 0 0 Total 673 4 6 FEILDING LIST. £ s. d. Previously acknowledged ... 368 11 3 A. G. Meyrick ’ 10 0 0