Tonight's Public Meeting

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 4

Tonight's Public Meeting

Ti HE citizens of Whangarei, and settlers from the surrounding district, have been invited by the Mayor to meet him at *the Town Had this evening to help forward a great scheme which has been launched with the object of providing funds for the welfare of New Zealand’s fighting forces. An appeal for £IOO,OOO is being made on a national basis. A campaign of short duration, but intensive in character, is planned, and the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army have been entrusted with the organisation of the work. It is self-evident, of course, that success cannot be achieved without the whole-hearted support of the people in every district in the Dominion. It is to secure the co-operation of the people of this district that the public meeting to be held this evening has been called. Northlanders have always risen nobly to any cad on behalf of a good cause, and there need be no doubt as to the response which will be made to an appeal in which everybody, whether he or she has a boy at the war already, or whether one is in training, or destined to find his way to a training camp in the near future, must be deeply interested. The national campaign so far has met with much success. It has been realised that funds must be provided for the extensive work which is being done for our fighting forces wherever they are serving. The people of New Zealand realise that through the medium of the Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army their interest in the happiness and comfort of their kith and kin in uniform can be directly expressed, for the Salvation Army and the Y.M.C.A. are with the forces not only in the big training camps and overseas, but also at the numerous important points which have to be constantly watched in the Dominion.

There is no need to stress the need which exists for recreational facilities and other comforts on the part of those who have offered their all in the defence of the Empire. The opportunity which is given for individuals to help in this great cause is one which should not be lost. Every citizen who can do so should attend tonight’s meeting, when the whole scheme will be explained fully. It is a national duty to do so.