APPEAL FOR FUNDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23954, 1 November 1939, Page 4

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

LOCAL PATRIOTIC ORGANISATION PROVINCIAL CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED INAUGURAL MEETING IN TOWN HALL . A. provincial patriotic - organisation, authorised and: regulated by the Pat?; riotic Purposes Emergency Regulations, 1939, was launched at a public meeting in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall yesterday afternoon. I On the motion of Sir Percy SarI good, seconded by Mr E. C. Hazlett. the i following resolution was carried unani I mously:— That this meeting o t citizens heartily endorses the proposals for proceeding with the immediate organisation and functioning of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council, • and pledges its unanimous support to the council in its patriotic work on behalf of our citizens soldiers and their dependents. This meeting further commends to all citizens the paramount claims of those actively engaged in the defence of our Empire to their ■ unstinted generosity and invites, all classes of the community to worthily support the patriotic appeals which will be launched by the Provincial Patriotic Council. The meeting was presided over by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) who convened it, and had associated with him representatives of religious, social and commercial organisations operating in ■the province. ;■ - > ’ - • : , ' Administration of Appeals After the singing of the* National Anthem, the chairman explained the purpose of the meeting, outlining the constitution and authorisation of the organisation, and indicating along broad lines the' direction future efforts might be expected to :take. Full provision had been made under the Emergency Regulations, Mr Allen said, for the administration of all appeals. Centennial organisations automatically become patriotic organisations under the regulations, and it was now necessary for an appeal for funds to be launched. • “ During the last war, the Mayor said " “ the province of Otago raised the sum of £308,000 for patriotic purposes but conditions then were very different from those existing to-day. The organisation was delayed until long after the war had commenced, atnf when a start was actually made fhe'need for action was very apparent, and our people rallied to the cause ■nobly. Our men were already overseas, and large numbers of them were actually in the front line.. To-day only a few men are in camp, but I have no 'doubt that the enthusiasm of our people will grow as the war, unfortunately. develops. We must make a start now, and it is for that purpose that I have called this meeting.” _ Continuing, Mr Allen said the Government had. very rightly determined this time to avoid overlapping of activity and the waste of money and energy by the adoption of an orderly and well-planned scheme. All activity in the collection and disbursement of funds or goods was to be governed by the emergency regulations.At the top of the tree there was a National Board, under the chairmanship of the Gover-nor-General (Viscount Galway). Next came the National Council, including the Mayors of the larger centres, and then there were to be Provincial Councils, directing the efforts of District Committees. The Otago Provincial Council had met ;that afternoon, and had appointed various committees. “It may appear that the whole organisation is being unduly regimented,” Mr Allen said, "but I should say that all moneys raised in Otago will be pooled in Dunedin under tne care of the town clerk, and expended at the discretion of «the Provincial Council, which is authori&d to make all payments. Only official accredited collectors will be permitted to operate, and each province will have full and complete control of its own funds. The Government has no authority to touch any of the money, and the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) will drop right out of the picture as soon as the organisation commences functioning.” „ ■, Some Immediate Needs

Money was needed for the men at home and abroad, the Mayor continued, but at the present time requirements were confined to the needs of the men

in camp. What these needs would be had yet to be determined in their entirety. but he could indicate certain requirements for which funds were needed already. One of these was a band at Burnham Camp, Every regiment needed a band, and in the present instance it was estimated that about £IOOO was needed to buy instruments. Sporting gear and materials were also necessary, and a regimental fund in the various camps to be disbursed by the officers on behalf of the men. The Red Cross, too, needed money for its various activities in the camps which had already commenced. .Then there was the furnishing of community rooms that had been erected at the camps by the Government. No doubt larger sums would be required when the men went overseas, Mr Allen said, and for that purpose funds; must be built up in the meantime. In all there would be 12 funds established; 11 of them provincial and locally administered’, and brie, a national ! fund controlled by the National Board. To this fund the Provincial Councils Could make payments, and, in fact, would have to, because under present sterling conditions only - the National Board could send money overseas. In connection with'this central fund they should remember that the object of all funds was to help New Zealand soldiers generally, and parochial feeling should be ...avoided at all costs. —. (Applause.), Endorsement of Appeal Bishop Fitchett, endorsing the appeal, said that everyone' could not risk life; and limb on active service,, but all ; could help in some way by providing necessary amenities for men in camp: or overseas, and he hoped, that none who stayed at home would fail in this, duty. Bishop Whyte commended the Mayor on his prompt action in launching the appeal. Sacrifice of wealth was a small thing compared with the sacrifice of health and life which their young men might have to make, and those who could not fight should see that those who did lacked no reasonable comfort or pleasure that could be afforded them.; He commended the Government’s action in preventing war profiteering, and expressed gratification that the’ emergency regulations recently enacted , put patriotic organisations on a sound and proper footing in this respect. Mr J. M. White (president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association) strongly supported, the appeal and referred to the generosity and enthusiasm, of the community in the last war, when £84,000 was raised for Belgian relief, and £105,000 by means of queen carnivals, a total of £308,000. The people of Otago were to be thanked for that fine effort and also for the assistance that had been given to the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Red Cross and the Patriotic Society since 1918. To-day the responsibility had recurred, and he hoped that the response would be as ready. Principal Hadden. representing the Council of Christian Congregations, said the gospel of national service, should, be “Freely ye have received.; freely give.”

Mr J. H. Waigth (Roxburgh) supported the appeal on behalf of country districts. In 1914-18. he said, Roxburgh had raised £2OOO- without a penny piece of expenditure, and he was sure that with proper organisation greater things could be achieved by the province as a whole. ■Sir Percy Sargood. moving the resolution inaugurating the organisation, said that every section of the community must shoulder the burdens such an organisation imposed and keep on smiling. Everyone could find a job as long as he was willing In conclusion. he reminded them that, notwithstanding all that the men might need ; in, camp or op the. battlefield, thev would need even more when they returned home, and for that reason thev must take the long view in such matters and prepare for the future as well.

Mr E. C. Hazlett, seconding the resolution. referred to the magnificent effort of the people of Otago in 1914-18 and the wise arid sympathetic:? disbursement of patriotic funds .since the close of the war. Now it had to be done all over again, and the appeal that was now being made should meet with the approval and support of the whole community. After the carrying of the resolution, the chairman invited those who were prepared to assist the organisation to give their names to the town clerk. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

MEETING OF COUNCIL

ADDITIONAL MEMBERS APPOINTED COMMITTEES SET UP At the preliminary meeting, of the Otago Provincial Council earlier in the afternoon the following, members, additional to those already serving on the Otago Centennial ' Council, were appointed:—Messrs C.. H. Wing (Boy Scouts’ Association), ’.A. G. Hewitt (Commercial Travellers’ Club), Mrs R. G. B. McNab (Girl Guides’ Association), Messrs J.McKnight (Imperial Ex T Servicemen’s Association), J. Suther; land Ross (Navy League), W. J. Strong (Otago Early Settlers’ Association), W. R. Brugh' (Overseas League), E. Moller (Otago University Students’ Association), Dr James Thomson (Rotary Club), Messrs W. D. Sutherland (School Committees’ Association), A. Duncan (South African Veterans’ Association), John Ash (St. John Ambulance Association).' E. R. Winkel 1 (Toe H) Mrs E. C. Reynolds (Victoria League). Mrs W. H. Hiett (Women’s Christian Temperance Union). Miss Murial May, M.A, (New Zealand Federation of University Women), Messrs J. McAra (Y.M.C.A.), J. W. Smeaton (Red Cross Society) D. C. Cameron, F. W. Mitchell, J. M. White (R.S.A.), W. R. Clark (Federation of Labour). C. V, Smith (Manufacturers’ Association), Major Bridges (Salvation Army), and the presidents of the Y.W.C.A. and Otago Women’s Club. ■ - , . ,■' Controlling Executive The following executive Controlling Committee was appointed with power to add to its numbers: —The Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen). Sir Percy Sargood, Dr W. Newlands. Messrs A-rthur Barnett, W, Begg, J, W. Dove,' H. L, Gibson, W. Kindley, J. M. White, J. J. Marlow, H, McDowell Smith, W. B. Taverner, E C, Hazlett. F. W. Mitchell, D. C. Cameron, the president for the time being of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (Otago Trades Council)! together with the chairman of each of the district controlling committees. The committee will act as the directing ahd controlling body for the purposes of co-ordinating the operations of the council and effectively carrying out of approved patriotic purposes and the administration of the regulations generally, subject to such directions as may be issued by the council from time to time. The executive shall have power to add to its number! . The Mayor was appointed ex officio, a member of all committees, and the town clerk (Mr R. A. Johnston) was appointed treasurer, and interim secretary. Women’s Committee With respect to the establishment of a women’s patriotic committee the following motion was carried: — That the executive committee be empowered to arrange for the setting up of a women’s district committee with the Mayoress as chairwoman, such committee to have power to add to its number, and to act as authorised collectors for the Patriotic Fund, and to otherwise assist in furthering the gen-, eral operations of the council or as may be delegated by the executive committee from time to time. It was decided that all funds should be banked in an account entitled the Otago Provincial Patriotic Fund Account, to be opened at the Bank or New Zealand and the headquarters of the council were fixed in the Town Hall. Dunedin.