FEILDING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 305, 23 November 1945, Page 2

FEILDING

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

The first meeting of Zone E Patriotic Committee since the war ended was held in the Community Centre, feilding, on Thursday evening, Mr T. L. Seddon presiding over a very large attendance. The secretary (Mr C. H. Tate) intimated that three casks of edible fats despatched to England by Women’s Institutes had been received, and he commented on the splendid effort of its members. Dealing with a letter from Zone B, which drew attention to the fact that solicitors’ fees had to be paid by servicemen securing loans from the lleliabilitation Department, it Vas stated that the fees were often considerable. Mr Seddon intimated that most solicitors were prepared to meet the servicemen in this matter, but the State required its full stamp duty on documents. If the. welfare fund were made available for the payment of legal fees, the drain on its resources would be tremendous and it was not likely that relief could be afforded the servicemen from that source. It was reported that parcels for the relief of distress in Europe, packed by the Red Cross and Lady Galway Guild members at the local depot, contained clothing weighing tons 12 cwt and included 18,000 articles. It was a remarkable effort, commented the chairman.

Appreciation of the zone’s raising of £17,000 for the last appeal in respect of its quota (£12,000) was voiced ,by Mr Seddon, who said that all districts within the zone had done their best. A statement of the amounts raised for patriotic purposes in the zone since 1939 revealed that £100,7.13 9s Id had been collected; parcels totalling 21,G00 and containing 130,000 articles had been despatched in 2700 cases, weighing 70 tons. Comforts knitted included 4612 balaclavas, 3628, scarves, 4470 hussii's, 3848 mittens, and hundreds of carry-alls, pullovers, pay-book covers, gloves and socks. Cash in hand amounted to £864 4s 2d.

Mr Tate, who attended the confeienee of the National Patriotic Council this week, said that in the future zone committees would become welfare committees, whose job would be to see that the returned men were not financially embarrassed at any time while negotiations for loans and pensions were proceeding. In the case of sudden sickness, local committees could make immediate advances to soldiers up to £lO. It was agreed that the R.S.A. should be represented on welfare committees. Mr Tate was thanked foi his report. Mr Seddon paid a tribute to the valour and courage of the Forces and thanked tho various patriotic organisations for their services; their record was one of which he was most proud. He made special reference to the work of Messrs Tate, H. Jaggard, and Iv. M. Little (secretary of the Feilding Patriotic Society). Regarding tho work of the women’s organisations, Mr Seddon especially thanked Mcsdamcs A. C. McCorkindalo (president of the women’s patriotic organisations), E. Scott (secretary ot the W.W.S.A.), R. E. Seddon (president of the W.W.S.A. and Lady Galway Guild) and their committees. Tho Lady Galway Guild had forwarded 236 cases of clothing weighing 20 tons to England. Peace, concluded Mr Seddon, had to be worked for, paid for and fought for, with tho same enthusiasm and energy as had been the war activities. Mrs McCorkindalo acknowledged the generous assistance given by both town and country committees and paid a tribute to the work of tho knitters. Tho meeting recorded its appreciation of tho assistance given by Mr W. H. Page, executive officers, firms and; the office staff of tho Borough Council. Mr G. J. Fitzpatrick thanked Mr Seddon for his services, stating that the chairman was held in high regard by members of the National Patriotic Council. The Huntervillc committee was commended for its outstanding patriotic collection. It was decided that a letter be sent to Mr A. B. Shannon wishing him a speedy restoration to health. Mr Seddon said Mr Shannon had been a great worker lor patriotic efforts, and as chairman of tho Oroua County Council had given every cooperation. In a survey of the activities of the Feilding .and district committee of the W.W.S.A., formed tin November, 1940, Mr Seddon said that at the close of hostilities in Europe tho roll stood at 305. Canteen work at Ohakea Air Station had involved the serving of suppers to upwards of 1030 men on five nights each *• week since August, 1941. Similar activities were carried out in Foilding at the military camps. At one time nearly 200 members of the auxiliary were doing canteen work for the Army and Air Force. Entertainment for the troops was arranged in conjunction with the Ladies’ Territorial Association and the Spinsters’ Club. Many letters of association had' been received from the boys. Profits went to the patriotic funds and also donations to the camp piano funds. Over ICO girls had been enrolled for service in the Armed Forces, Mrs Z. Stalker attending to all enlistments. In Feilding 20 girls had enlisted for the Land Army. Advice cards concerning the direction of women to essential work were prepared and despatched and in one period no fewer than 180 cards were sent out notifying women that they were required for interviews. An urgent request for the making of camouflage nets had been satisfied. Mesdames Seddon and Scott had represented the W.W.S.A. on war loan committees, and much work had been carried out in these appeals, in addition to the provision of refreshments. Assistance in the “Dig for Victory” campaign had been given. The patriotic tearooms at the saleyards, conducted for 18 months, had netted a profit of £l5O, which had been handed over to the Patriotic Society. Transport had been arranged for sick and wounded and prisoners of wai returning from overseas, and their welfare attended to. Refreshments for Home Guard parades, sometimes totalling 1000 men, had been provided when necessary, while every section of the E.IP.S. had a W.W.S.A. representative. Since the close of hostilities activities had been greatly reduced, but knitting had been done for Polish children at Pahiatua. Throughout the war years members had stood together in the field of service and should do so again if the emergency ever arose.

Mr 11. Girling Butcher. Inspector of Fire Brigades, and Mr H. It. Brown, of the Fire Service Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, visited Feilding on Thursday and met the members of the local Fire Board and Borough Council. The visit was for the purpose of discussing the proposed reorganisation of the Dominion’s fire fighting service. As far as the Feilding Fire Board is concerned, it as anticipated that no administrative changes will be necessary. The visitors discussed generally the recommendations of the Select Committee as affecting fire boards and answered a number of questions. Kimbolton senior cricket team.—Yeaman, Harding, Holmes, Neal, Fitzpatrick, Thevcnard, MeGhio, Hickford, Nash, Clapham, Myers, Martin, Murdock.