CITY PATRIOTIC EFFORT

Southland Times, Issue 24027, 18 January 1940, Page 8

CITY PATRIOTIC EFFORT

SUBSTANTIAL GIFTS RECEIVED CONSERVATION OF FUNDS URGED An announcement that promises of substantial gifts to the patriotic funds had already been made by Invercargill business men and firms was made at; a meeting of the Invercargill Metropolitan Patriotic Committee last night by the chairman (Mr W. Grieve). He said that Sir Robert Anderson had given £250 and a number of substantial gifts had been received from firms. Mr Grieve said he had at first thought that the arrangements made for the control of patriotic funds savoured of political control. He had since visited Wellington and had found that the idea was entirely erroneous. He was now convinced that the setting up of the Patriotic Board was a wise move. There was nothing political about the collecting and spending of the money. Unfortunately, in Invercargill there was an idea that the method was not correct and it was the duty of the committee to dispel that idea. He believed that the committee would be able to raise the money it required. Wherever collections had been made the response had been beyond expectations. He believed the money should be given voluntarily for indirect methods did not bring home to the people the seriousness of the war.

The committee had set out to canvass large firms and a circular had been sent out. Already a number of replies had been received. Sir Robert Anderson Had given £250, J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., £lOO, the Ocean Beach Freezing Co. £lOO and the Southland Building Society £250. The Southland Frozen Meat Company would give a substantial sum which had not yet been fixed. Smaller firms from which smaller gifts could be expected would next be approached and later individuals would be asked to do their part. He had asked Sir Robert Anderson to approach the head offices of firms operating in Southland and impress upon them that they must give locally to assist district funds. CONSERVATION OF FUNDS The importance of conserving the funds as far as possible was emphasized by the Mayor (Mr J. R. Hanan). The money would be required overseas later, and needed urgently, he said, and should be conserved for this purpose. Later it might be necessary to cooperate with Christchurch organizations which were doing a great deal for the troops in Burnham. It would be impracticable for the committee to make provision only for the Southland troops in any camp. Mrs J. R. Hanan said the women’s section of the committee had held a meeting and had decided to approach all women’s organizations for assistance in the work. Every effort would be made to conserve funds allotted to the committee and to do all possible in advancing the work. A letter received from Mr J. Filippini, secretary of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association, stated that it was desirable that arrangements fc .■ farewells to the troops should be in the hands of several organizations and not left to one body. He could assure the committee that the troops had appreciated the gifts distributed as they left Invercargill. The chairman said he was convinced that the arrangements for a public farewell in the Rose Gardens several days before the troops left was the best possible plan. It was clearly impossible for a farewell ceremony to be held on the platform when the train was about to leave. When the troops were surrounded by friends and relations at the station they did not want to listen to speeches. A most unfair letter had appeared in The Southland Times criticizing the Mayor for not giving the troops a farewell at the station. In country districts it was possible for dances and entertainments to be held for the raising of funds for gifts to departing trooops. In cities this was not so simple. FAREWELL COMMITTEE It was decided that the executive, with power to add, constitute a farewell committee with the Mayor as chairman.

Advice was received from the Southland Provincial Council of the appointment of Mr P. Linton Hodge as entertainment organizer for patriotic efforts in Southland. Mr Hodge said that co-operation from local organizations in supplying programmes for entertainments had been

promised and it was desirable that all possible assistance should be available. Notice of at least one month should be given of any entertainments arranged so that over-lapping could be avoided and a suitable programme arranged. The Mayor emphasized that any local organization wishing to raise money for patriotic purposes would require to secure authority from the chairman of the local committee or from Mr Hodge. Mr C. Trim said that organizations seeking to raise funds should keep in touch with the local committee to avoid overlapping which might spoil the efforts. Colonel J. Hargest said that one way in which the committee could help would be in the setting up of a depot for the packing of parcels for Southland troops and crating them for despatch overseas. Individuals would make up parcels of different sizes and they would be difficult to pack, but if uniform parcels were made up they could be packed more easily. Southland had no local war efforts and consequently did not appreciate the need for assistance within New Zealand. It was possible that the committee should make some provision for comforts for prisoners of war. The secretary (Mr L. S. Alsweiler) said the City Council had advised the committee that no more steps would be taken in centennial celebrations in Invercargill and £lOO earmarked for the celebrations would be paid into the patriotic funds.