PUBLIC OPINION

Putaruru Press, Volume XVI, Issue 957, 20 November 1941, Page 6

PUBLIC OPINION

(A COLUMN FOB THE PEOPLE)

PATRIOTIC FUND SUBSCRIPTION (To the Editor.) Sir, —In your account of last Monday’s meeting- of the Matamata Inter-zone Patriotic Committee, Mr. L. H. Little is reported to have claimed that a published acknowledgement of a donation was the only method by which the public could be assured that the donation had reached the fundNow, Sir, that statement is very far from being correct, and is likely to have a most prejudicial effect on future canvassing. In my opinion, the only real check on collectors is for every donor to insist that his of her name and the amount of the donation is entered on a collector’s Official card, and if the said donation is, say, 10s, or over, to demand a receipt on the Auckland Provincial Council’s printed and numbered receipt form. These forms miust all he accounted for and are subject to Government audit. If the public will follow tiiis simple procedure it will have complete protection against dishonesty on the part of collectors or-other officials. On the other hand, the mere publication of an unaudited list is of doubtful value, even having some objectionable features if issued before canvassing is completedFnsofar as our local inter-zone (Tirau-Okoroire) is concerned, I am certain that I can satisfy any contributor that mo acknowledged collections cam fail to reach the Provincial Fund. —I am, etc., J A. BECK. Tirau.