PATRIOTIC AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 9 February 1944, Page 3

PATRIOTIC AFFAIRS

NELSON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF EXECUTIVE The executive committee of the Nelson Provincial Patriotic Council held its monthly meeting last evening. The chairman, Mr E. R. Neale, presided and other members present were Messrs J. G. McKay, A H. Crawley, G. R. McKellar, C. R. Fell. J. Corder and the hon. secretary, Mr F Mitchell. An apology was received from Mr A. R. Tuffnell. Accounts totalling £ll3B 17s 5d were passed for payment. Advice was received from the National Patriotic Fund Board that following the representations made to the Minister of Transport for travel concessions for men of the Merchant Navy, a reply had been received from the de-puty-Prime Minister that it was not possible for the Government to make the concession to Merchant seamen without giving rise to demands for similar privileges from other quarters, the granting of which could not be justified The Nelson Council resolved to request the Board to make further representations direct to the Prime Minister. GRAMOPHONE RECORDS In a circular letter the National Patriotic Fund Board stated that increasing demands are being made, from the Pacific area particularly, for large numbers of electrically recorded gramophone records and the supply in both wholesale and retail trades was almost exhausted. The board accordingly requested all Provincial patriotic councils to procure as many of these records as possible second-hand, either as gifts, or, if the records were exceptionally good, as purchases. A PROTEST The chairman brought to the council’s notice an instance of a discharged soldier having hi s mufti allowance suspended in order to meet an amount owing by him through overpayment of his allotment by the army authorities during his service overseas. It was resolved to forward a protest to the Minister of Defence against a serviceman’s mufti allowance being attached for payment of dues. WESTPORT R.S.A. CLUB The council gave further consideration to the application received for a grant from patriotic funds to assist in the establishment of an R.S.A. Club at Westport. After some discussion it was resolved to advise the committee that the matter was being considered and that decision would be deferred until the council had decided upon the policy to be adopted in reference to the whole province