FUNDS WANTED FOR TROOPS

Southland Times, Issue 23991, 5 December 1939, Page 8

FUNDS WANTED FOR TROOPS

Show-Week Effort In Invercargill STREET COLLECTIONS TO BE HELD “It has been made pretty clear that what we want is money, and plenty or it,” observed the Mayor (Mr J. R. Hanan) after hearing an outline of the purposes of the patriotic fund, given by Mr J. Hargest, M.P., a member of the National Patriotic Council, at a public meeting in the Council Chambers last evening. The meeting, which was representative of various social ana business organizations in Invercargill, decided to form itself into the Invercargill Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. An executive was elected ana it was decided to launch Invercargill s effort with street collections during Royal Show week. There were present: The Mayor (Mr J. R. Hanan) and Mayoress, Mrs Stanley Brown, Mrs J. Hargest, Mrs S. J. Raines, Mrs M. Simmonds, Mrs Walker, Mrs Kennard, Mrs Mcllwraith and Mrs Garfield Crawford; Messrs J. Hargest, M.P., W. Grieve, A. E. W. McDonald, J. D. Campbell, P. Linton Hodge, C. Trim, L. A. Blackmore, W. F. Sturman, J. S. Filippim, L. S. Alsweiler, D. Harris, S. Anderson, J. E. Lawrence, C. Campbell and JPickard. , , Mr Hargest addressed the meeting and outlined what was expected of the people of Southland in subscribing funds to provide comforts for the soldiers in camps and when they went overseas. He emphasized that none of the funds collected would be handled, by the Government. The Government had set up a Patriotic Funds Board, and its function was to take charge of all funds collected and spend them as it tHougHt best. It also set up the National Patriotic Council, of which he was a member. Its duty was to advise the board which handled the funds. COMFORTS FOR SOLDIERS “We appear to have started into this wdr in an easy-going way,” said Mr Hargest. “There is no doubt, however, that by next spring in Europe there will be intensive fighting, and we will need all our fortitude. We may have to make a tremendous sacrifice before we succeed, which I think we will do. At the present time we are committed to ' sending an expeditionary force abroad, and to prepare for its going we are asking people to gather funds and give the soldiers some comforts ‘which are not available from army funds. If the people could see what the soldier has to go through in war time they would gladly open their purses and give something to provide comforts.” He had Visited the main camps throughout New Zealand, said Mr Hargest, and he could say that the conditions were the best he had seen, and there was no need for any soldier to suffer hardship. In the future, however, some of the camps which would be set up might not be so well equipped and it was there that comforts could be provided. The real needs were bands and regimental funds. He appealed to the committee to see that immediately the force went overseas that it would have an abundance of funds. It was when the men were overseas that they needed the money most. It was hoped that the profits from the canteen funds would be devoted to the regimental funds but there were to be no profits—the canteen supplies were being sold to the soldiers at practically cost price, APPEAL FOR BAND In conclusion Mr Hargest made a special appeal to Southland to equip its regiment with a band. “It would be a great thing if the people of Southland could get together £lOOO to equip the second echelon, which will soon go into camp, with a band,” he said. “I think the Southland people could quite easily find £lOOO for that purpose.” , The following persons were elected to the executive committee of the Invercargill Metropolitan Patriotic Committee: Representatives of womens organizations: The Mayoress (Mrs J. R. Hanan), Mrs F. J. Raines and Mrs Stanley Brown. Invercargill R.S.A. representatives, Messrs J. S. Filippini and P. Linton Hodge. , Trades Union representatives, Messrs S. Anderson, D. Harris and J. E. Lawrence. Y.M.C.A., Mr A. E. W. McDonald. Rotary Club, Mr J. D. Campbell. Invercargill Chamber of Commerce, Mr W. Grieve. Community Sing Committee, Mr C. Trim. _ Public Service Association, Mr C. Campbell. Southland Employers’ Association, Mr L. S. Alsweiler. Representatives of the Salvation Army, the Red Cross Society and the Southland Patriotic Council to be appointed. The following officers were elected: Chairman, Mr W. Grieve; vice-chair-man, Mr P. Linton Hodge; secretary and Treasurer, Mr L. S. Alsweiler. A suggestion by Mr Hargest that a street collection be held in Invercargill ‘hext week was adopted. It was decided to ask the Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association to assist in the effort by allowing the auction of goods at the show grounds. Various committees were appointed to organize the effort which it was hoped would give the Invercargill fund an excellent start.