PATRIOTIC WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24836, 9 February 1942, Page 4

PATRIOTIC WORK

LIGHTENING THE BURDEN THIS YEAR'S REQUIREMENTS INCREASED, OBLIGATIONS " the. New Zealand forces ; haye grown considerably in numbers and our responsibilities . have increased since the national patriotic.appeal was made in the early part of-last year, said Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, when referring to the fund-raising activities that will be necessary this year to. keep-New Zealand sailors, soldiers, airmen and nurses providec with comforts and amenities. Mi Hayden said that when .the figures wer« placed before the conference or patriotic bodies in Wellington last November it was estimated that,, including provision for sick and wounded and ?lso prisoners' of war; the. board would require £752,700 for the current year. The indications were that a.greater sum than that would now be necessary. ■ ;■* "As a result »■ of the Libyan campaign," Mr Hayden said, "the numbers of New Zealand prisoners of war, was. increased, making it-necessary to provide for an additional number of weekly parcels through the service conducted for the board by the Joint Council of the Order of St. John-Mid the New Zealand Red Cross Society. Th° cost alone of providing 4000 eels weekly . from . the Dominion .as about £2500 a week. Other factors \ contributing to an increased expenditure are the extensive mobilisation ordered for home defence purposesand 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 haye provided extra games, sports gear and various other amenities for. thejsenefit of men recently galled up, but as time goes on it will be necessary to do more, in this direction. :\ Total of Over a, Million

"To meet all thfe : requirements of the board*and of the 11 Provincial Patriotic Councils over £1,000,000 will be wanted in the current year without making, any provision for returning men which is one''of the most important of patriotic activities. Balances varying in amount are held by the" pro T vincial couhcilsi"but, nevertheless. It will be necessary- to raise by direct appeal to,the public, a: substantial-prp-, portion of the ■; sura.required:._tp__.me.e|the year's needs.." '".'"■ '*'■? ■'-. L " "The raising of theimoneyis;the responsibility of the, and to ensure the success of the* various fund-raising activities they will be conducting in V the territories ' under their jurisdiction it will be necessary that they should receive full public support. ■ It -is, '• more important than ever at thie- stage: of the wa>4hat;the patriotic funds should be in. a„ strong position to help Cushion; the arduousness of service for? our'soldiers, saii()rs\ and airmen, and to let them know that the'people at home; even; though the calls on them.have.grown'heavier, are not going to let them .'down..: There are few people who cahhot'spare something for the patriotic. funds, and if that principle is acted upon, instead of the job being left to relatively few, it will not take long to .build up the funds required. •Something much better than the response to the Christ,mas Day Envelope 1 appeal is required. The' result of that appeal was disappointing, for an; analysis of the contributions received, totalling /about £15,000, shows that;. only a comparatively small'section of the PttbliS '.KS, ;sponded-'V,. ■• ;. ,^';„•'',';>"■ i\,, : Sf^« . : ture for the; first three, months of the board's activities: in. the, current, yeaf afforded an'illustration of ;thejheavy calls -that • now>iiadr, to be;;met.:: -ih? that: period expenditure 'but, off'the general, account amounted tb."»£116;391, /of which about £25,000 was recoverable,- giving a net <of £91,391. ; lathis sum,had rto be added payments amounting to pf the Sick and Wounded Fund,: and another £6835 for prisoners/ of war; The grand total for three months was therefore J £115,594. ■■}. • : : *'S'jm ■ i '-\ No service or no amount; of money we at home may give," Mr Harden concluded, "can. -equal the sacrifice made by the man.who., gives ; ,ur/ ; his civilian occupation to fight for Ms country. It is therefore up to ime New Zealand patriotic organisation to do its-utmost to make conditions ess#r for those 'in the • forces.' only* be done by continued'generous public -supports ,'-''''.* THE LOCAL APPEAL EFFORT M FOOD GRpyP Friday will mark the opening.date of Dunedin's drive for the £73;500; urgently required for "The All Purposes Appeal" for the fighting "forces. No appeal could more greatly warrant public attention and support, and the Food Group I'ommittee has every confidence that its elaborate new yen - • ture will attract the patronage it deserves. ' ■'■ / •• ' ' .'... . A modern. Casino, games for which have been hired irom the'.Worth Island; and Australia, will mark the first real effort to collect the required funds, and the Food Group Committee is poing to considerable trouble to make this Casino something entirely out of the ordinary; This carnival should not be confused with other Casino efforts thafhave been held in the-past. The carnival will provide an entirely new form of entertainment, and; is more up to date andlarger than before attempted in the South Island. Singing cowboys and entertainers; p.t all- descriptions form but jtf the free entertainment that will t* offered during the limited period the Casino will be open. The. best games from'the Centennial Exhibition wUI be included.; '/•-■ , • ■■•'..•■• ' ■' ■';■"-'',"•■?"::"..