PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 267, 9 October 1940, Page 5

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

WORK FOR NEW APPEAL. A meeting of the Feilding and District Patriotic Committee was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr T. L. Seddon) presiding. Tnose piesent were Mesdames A. U. McCorkindale, T. Donaldson, E. Scott, C. L. Hunter, M. Green, W. Gr. Short, Alason Durie, and J. H. Mason, Messrs G. H. Tate, T. F. Fitzgerald, A. C. Buist, F. JAllen, A. CL McCorkindale, H. 1). Richardson, T. Collins, Mason Durie, G. J. Fitzpatrick, T. K. Hay, S. H. Lodge, S. Orr, P. G. Guy, O. 0. Sporle, W. G. Olapham and W. G. Bootu. The main business was the making of the. arrangements for the Heart-to-Heart Appeal for £1.000,000 to be launched next Monday. The Mayor outlined the objects of the appeal on the lines of the address given py Major Abel, Dominion organiser, in Palmerston North on Saturday. The appeal, as the Governor-General had put it, was a personal one and exeryone was expected to contribute to the best of his ability. Zone E was expected to raise £20.000. ’The Mayor commended the object of the meeting and trusted that steps similar to those for the previous appeal would be taken to set about raising the amount required. In reply to a question, Mr Seddon said that money expressly given lor the London Relief Fund had been accounted for accordingly, and the limit of. the amount of sterling made available had been reached. In the event of money being given for the fund mentioned and sterling not being available, the donors would have to be advised.

Mr Fitzpatrick said that, according to a population basis, Zone E should contribute only about £16,C00. The quota should be lower than that oi the Palmerston North area (Zone D), which had a population of 30,000. The Mayor said that the amount expected from the Wellington Provincial Patriotic District was £200,000, of which amount Zone E was allocated the duty of raising 9.8 per cent, while Zone D (Palmerston North and Ivairanga County) was allocated 9-7 per cent. Replying to a question by Mr T. Collins, the chairman agreed that there was a similarity in the nature of the Fighting Services Appeal launched many months ago and the present Heart-to-Heart Appeal. The treasurer (Mr C. TI. Tate) statedi that of the first two appeals there was still a good amount of the money raised intact. The war, however, was unfortunately still raging and the calls on funds in hand would continue. Mr D. J. Allen asked if any portion of the money to be raised had been earmarked for rehabilitation. Mr Seddon replied that the money was for immediate needs, and had not been broken up into specific allocations. If the meeting desired, it could represent its views to * the National Patriotic Board. Mr Fitz Gerald said it would make it easier to collect money if the, collectors could state definitely where the money was going. Mr Fitzpatrick moved that a recommendation go forward to the National Patriotic Fund Board that a definite sum be allocated for rehabilitation purposes. The motion was seconded by Mr Fitz Gerald and carried.

Mr W. G. Clapham moved that the appeal be launched on the same lines as the two previous efforts. Mr W. G. Booth, who seconded this, said that tlie collectors would have to work very hard to get the amount required by November 25, the date pencilled for the closing of the appeal. Mr K. M. Little was appointed official organiser. The Mayor announced that petrol would be available for collectors.

Regarding the desirability or otherwise of conducting a ball, the chairman said that in the event of such a function being held the orchestra could be secured free of cost, and preparatory work would be done gratis by Mrs Stirrit and her lady helpers. The matter was deferred meantime. An offer to conduct a concert for patriotic funds was received from a Maori concert party at Tokorangi, and accepted. A sub committee consisting of Air and Airs Durie, Messrs T. Collins, 0. Sporle and E. J. Allen, with power to co opt others, was*'set up. The Alayor said he hoped the Red Cross Society would assist in the forthcoming appeal. Ajipcals for Red Cross funds had ceased meanwhile. Air Allen voiced the hoped tnat a flag day would be held and conducted by the Red Cross Society, which had been most successful in connection with a similar efforl earlier. Mr Tate stated that Air A. Is.. Drew had reported that the whole of the organisation in the Alanawatu County was ready to participate in the appeal. Air Drew had perfected an organisation which was bound to show results.