AIDING SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25345, 29 October 1945, Page 6

AIDING SOLDIERS

PATRIOTIC BOARD LARGE SUMS SPENT The hope that the National Patriotic Fund Board would be able to close down as soon as possible was expressed by the secretary of the board, Mr G. A. Haydcn, when addressing the annual meeting of the New Zealand Navy League War Council in Wellington. From now on, he said, the main task in looking after the well-being of the men who had been serving would fall on the provincial councils. "In wartime the men are housed and paid by the Government," said Mr Hayden, "but in peacetime they tend to become 'forgotten men.' The biggest job we have to face is to see that these men are looked after for the remainder of their lives if that is at all possible."

Patriotic activities since the waxbegan are illustrated by the following figures:—Total patriotic funds raised by the provincial patriotic councils and the board, £8,042/163; total expended overseas, £3,110,288; total expended in New Zealand, £4,518,209; total funds received by expending agents, £1,2G9,265; cash in hand, etc., £604,810; gift parcels sent overseas, 1.000,000; tobacco parcels, 183,362; cliocolate orders, 142,218. In addition to these amounts, substantial grants have been received from tho Government to defray the cost of prisoner of war food parcels, freights overseas and in New Zealand, and for the maintenance of the board's office and stores. There have also been subsidies for various activities. These figures do not take into account moneys paid to the board by the Y.M.C.A., Church. Army, Salvation Army and the Catholic War Services Hoard, these being buffet receipts, etc., which wore paid into the patriotic funds and used for the benefit of the fighting services. A COMBINED EFFORT WELFARE OF SERVICEMEN Reporting on his recent overseas tour, the secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Hoard, Mr G. A. Hayden, said it was only fair to eav that the clubs throughout Italy and the Y.MC.A. at the Madonna di Campiglio could not have functioned without the assistance of the Army, which provided in all cases the complete staffs, tho transport and also in many cases tho rations. The work of tho Army, the National Patriotic Fund Board and the Y.M.C.A. jn regard to welfare services had become very intermingled in the Middle East, all three having combined to the advantage of tho troops. It had often been said that the New Zealand troops were tho best catered for of all the British Commonwealth forces. That, Mr Hayden thought, was perfectly true, but in making that statement one must remember that the New Zealand patriotic organisation was not alone responsible. The work at present being done would be impossible of achievement without the co-operation of the services.

. SELLING ASSETS EQUIPMENT AND BUILDINGS 'One of the main reasons for the recent overseas tour of tho secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr G. A. llayden, was to look into the question of the realisation of the board's assets in various parts of the world. It has been decided, the board states, that wherever possible these assets are to be sold on the spot instead, of being returned to New Zealand. In manv cases this will result in an actual profit to tho board in the case of movable equipment, but there will be n big loss on buildings, fortunately, however, with the exception of Egypt and Bari, in Italy, very little money has been spent in buildings. All hand instruments are to bo returned to Zealand because of the shortage of band equipment in this country. Mr Havden says that the people who subscribed the luiuls in New Zealand I for the patriotic activities could rest assured that airy assets of the board overseas that had a realisable value would be sold and tho money held in a reserve fund for post-war welfare work through tho provincial patriotic councils for returned personnel and their dependants for the next 25 or 30 years. FUNCTION AT PAPAKURA £SOO RAISED IN GALA DAY A gala dav for patriotic funds was held in the school grounds at Papakura on Saturday, when about £'>oo was raised by various sports and other attractions, including a mock court. Owing to wet weather, a procession through the main street and a ceremonial marching display by the Papakura camp band had to be abandoned.

PLEASURE CRAFT PETROL ALLOWANCES GRANTED MONTHS' FUEL MAY BE DRAWN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday A decision to grant fuel allowances for pleasure craft during the season commencing on November 1 has been announced by the Minister of Supply. Mr Sujlivnn.' Allowances are: Launches and auxiliary vachts with waterline length, up to'and including 25ft. eight gallons a month; over 25 and including Soft, 16 gallons; over 30 and including 35ft, 24 gallons; over 35 and including 40f1,, 32 gallons; over 'loft, 40 gallons. Boats using outboard motors up to. and including fivo horse-power, four gallons; over five horse-power, eight gallons.

"As is the case with petrol coupons." said Mr Sullivan, "the NovemberDecember and January-February allowances may ho drawn at any time within tho respective two months by the owners of pleasure craft. The MarchApril allowances are similarly grouped, as was the case last vear."