Heavier Drains On Patriotic Fund

Northern Advocate, 9 February 1942, Page 2

Heavier Drains On Patriotic Fund

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] WELLINGTON, This Day

“To meet all the requirements of the boxrd and of the 11 provincial patriotic councils, over £1,000.000 will be wanted in the current year,” said the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board (Mr Hayden), in lefei'ring to the fund-raising activities lhat will be necessary this year to keep New Zealand soldiei’s. sailoi-s, airmen and nurses provided with comforts and amenities.

Balances vai’ying in amount are held by the provincial councils, he said, but nevertheless, it would be necessary to raise by direct appeal to the public a substantial proportion of the sum required to meet the year’s needs. Parcels £2500 Weekly

“As a result of the ' Libyan campaign,” said Mr Hayden, “the number of New Zealand prisoners of war was increased, making it necessary to provide for an additional number of weekly pai'cels through the service conducted for the board by the Joint Council of the Order of St John and the New Zealand Red Ci’oss Society. The cost alone of providing 4000 parcels weekly from the Dominion xs about £2500 a week. “Other factors contributing to an increased expenditure are the expenses of mobilisation ordered for home defence purposes and the increase in the strength of New Zealand forces serving in certain areas overseas. Already the National Patriotic Fund Board and the provincial patriotic councils have provided, extra games, sports gear, and various other amenities for the benefit

of men recently called up, but as time goes on it will be necessary to do more in this direction."

Mr Hayden said that the expenditure for the first three months of the board's activities in the current year amounted to £116.391 of which about £25,000 was recoverable, giving a net expenditure of £91.391. To this sum had to be added payments amounting to £17,368 out of the Sick and Wounded Fund, and another £6835 for prisoners of war. The grand total for three months was therefore £115.594.