PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24412, 25 September 1940, Page 9

PATRIOTIC COUNCIL

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS ADOPTED A meeting of the executive of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council yesterday afternoon was presided over by the Mayor (Mr A. H. Allen;. Finance Committee Mr Edgar Hazlett, on behalf of the Finance Committee, submitted accounts for payment totalling £BB3 0s 2d. Applications for recreational equipment from the Taieri Air Force Station and the Wingatui camp will be discussed by the committee at a subsequent meeting with the district commanding officers of the two arms. The speaker also advised that a report was being procured on the subject of billiard tables at the Taieri Station. Mr F. W. Mitchell said that a great deal of materia] had already been provided for the Burnham camp ana had since been taken overseas. He was afraid there was going to be a lot of overlapping, and the whole matter should be carefully watched.

The Mayor said much of the materia] had been given to the regiments as well as to the camp. He supported MiMitchell in his plea for more carefui attention to the matter because of the increasing obligations the council was contracting for through the establishment of territorial camps. The report was adopted. Sir Percy Sargood said it was tune they set up a sub-committee, including co-opted members, to act as a cohesive authority through which all requests and appeals should come before the council. He moved that such a sub committee be set up. and that all matters pertaining to the obligations of the council, military or through agencies, would be referred to this sub committee. The motion was carried. Freehold Property Mr H. McDowell Smith said on behalf of the Freehold Property Committee that although the hoped for progress had not been made, everything was now in readiness, and it was expected to make a definite start on the actual building at an early date, probably in a couple of days. Publicity Committee As a means to stimulating public interest and moulding the public mind with regard to the needs of the moment nationallv and locally. 1 it was decided that Mr F. Milner. C.M.G. (rector of the Waitaki Boys' High School) should be invited to address a public meeting to be called by the Mayor on receipt of the speaker's acceptance. Queen Carnival On behalf of the Queen Carnival Committee, Mr Arthur Barnett reported that everything was proceeding satisfactorily in the carnival and good progress was being made. The next spectacular attraction would be a procession of an unusual magnitude through the streets of the city on Friday night, October 11. The Mayor said it was gratifying Mo note how well the Queen Carnival was going now in both city and country. He also referred to the decision of the City Council on the previous night in approving of the use of the whole of the Octagon, streets and reserve for an " Old English Faire" on Saturday, October 19. "Some people might think it is an outrageous proposal," said the Mayor, "but it was agreed to for the precise reason that something unusual ' was needed. Adequate tram and bus arrangements will be made." Sir Percy Sargood congratulated the council on its courage " in dispensing completely with red tape." Rehabilitation When a letter from the South Otago Zone, urging that since the first duty of the Empire was to win the war before considering rehabilitation, all possible funds should be forwarded to England for fighting equipment was read, the Mayor said the suggestion was impossible. It struck at the very root of their efforts. He was afraid that a great many people had some unnecessary fears about the question of rehabilitation, and he thought that it could not be emphasised too strongly that that problem was not a post-war one. It was with them already, and had to be dealt with. The letter was received.