Rehabilitation Problem For Northland Zone

Northern Advocate, 14 September 1940, Page 5

Rehabilitation Problem For Northland Zone

Advice from the secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, received by the Northland Patriotic Executive last night, indicated that .arrangements had been made for the campaign for patriotic funds to begin again in earnest as from October 1. Stress was laid on the fact that, among oliher activities', funds were required for rehabilitation purposes. . Although it was an essential feature, the identity of the provincial fund itself, and all that it stood for, was to be kept in the forefront, the letter from the provincial secretary stated. Relative to the rehabilitation fund the chairman (Mr W. Jcnes) said that £250,000 had been the figure given as the Auckland Provincial Council’s goal, with Northland's allocation as £30,000. No time limit had been set for the closing of the rehabilitation appeal. No doubt a good response would be given to it, Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay commented. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the rehabilitation appeal, which should have been launched (prior to the ’plane fund. Mr Jones said. Agreed With Plane Fund. Mr R. Coates (Otamatea) did not agree with those in opposition to the ’plane fund, which was a fine gesture. The war had only just begun, ,and he wondered if the time had come when the people should be asked to concentrate on rehabilitation and nothing else. Mr J. W. Parkin agreed that it would be wrong to put all money raised into the rehabilitation fund. He mentioned the canteen fund of the last war, indicating that in his opinion the canteen fund in the present war should not be held by a Government department. Mr Jones: We have nothing to do with the canteen funds. * In the opinion of Mr Jones, the rehabilitation fund was the one fund to which the people of New Zealand should contribute willingly. Red Cross-St. John Fund. Mr Parkin understood that the joint funds of the Red Cross and St. John was to assist sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents and would carry the burden until the end of the war. “We should draw on that fund instead of creating a new one,” he said. Mr Jones pointed out that the Red Cross-St. John organisation had to get the money out of the National Fund. There was no suggestion that it would be devoted to rehabilitation, however. “We want to look after those who are not sick or wounded.” Mr Jones said. In the past, lie knew it had been necessary “to go down on cur knees to get money for poor beggars who were down and out.” Mr Jones hoped that in the new j scheme Northland would have a say in the spending of the money collected in the new Rehabilitation Scheme.

A fixed period in which the money should be raised was advocated by Mr R. Coates (Otamate.a).

The letter was received and discussed later in general business. Mr E. G. Aicken suggested that the Northland quota might be obtained in two separate efforts, each concentrated into a three months’ campaign, with a three months' rest period in between. Asking Too Much. It was asking too much to make a single drive for the amount over an indefinite period. Mr Jones: We haven't accepted the quota of £30,000 yet. Eventually the executive decided to accept the quota pro forma, but expressed itself of the opinion that times and dates of the campaign in this area should be left to the discretion of the Northland Zone. The executive’s reply would be forwarded to Auckland, Mr Jones said. He wanted it to be discussed by the provincial council, and not by the standing committee alone.

It was .almost a case of city versus country.

Nothing could be done, however, until the reactions of the standing committee had been seen.

Northland at present had to its credit ,a sum of over £SOOO in the Patriotic Fund which he had been assured was for rehabilitation purposes.