PATRIOTIC FUND REGULATIONS

Southland Times, Issue 24057, 22 February 1940, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUND REGULATIONS

OBJECTS EXPLAINED AT OTAUTAU The objects of the regulations of the various patriotic funds were explained at a meeting at Otautau by the deputychairman of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council (Mr W. Grieve) and the honorary secretary and treasurer (Mr W. F. Sturman). Mr W. J. Wesney, chairman of the Otautau Patriotic Committee, presided over a good attendance of representatives of the Otautau, Orepuki, Aparima and Isla Bank districts.

Mr Grieve explained the object of the Patriotic Regulations that had been established, including the functions of the National Patriotic Board and the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council. He explained the steps already taken by the Provincial Council in the raising of patriotic funds and its decision to admit as members of the council chairmen of district patriotic committees in addition to the chairmen of the various local bodies. He outlined the workings of the Invercargill Metropolitan Patriotic Committee and referred to the excellent results that were being achieved. He said he felt sure that similar committees would be established throughout the province of Southland. Mr Sturman said that as far as regulations were concerned it was intended to administer them in a broad and common-sense manner. The first step was to appoint district committees with a chairman and secretary, and to advise him of the names of those men, when authorized collectors’ permits and official receipt books would be forwarded to them. He told the secretaries to keep a record of the details of the various functions to submit to him, as the whole of the operations are subject to Government audit. Moneys could be lodged with any of the banks for transmission, free of exchange, to the Southland Provincial Patriotic Fund account kept at the Bank of New Zealand, Invercargill. When secretaries were making lodgments they were asked to forward to him an advice note giving particulars together with copies of receipts that had been issued, he said. This request was not difficult because the receipt forms were in triplicate. It was not necessary to issue an individual receipt for small amounts as it was quite in order for collectors to use subscription lists (signed and issued by the chairman or secretary of the district committee), the total amounts being officially recorded through the receipt book. Used subscription lists would, of course, have to be forwarded to him (Mr Sturman) with the moneys. FINANCIAL REGULATIONS He said that the controllers of the district committees need have no fear about the financial regulations—they were simple in their operation, and if there were any matters puzzling the chairman or secretary during the course of their operations, he advised that they note them and call at the Town Hall, Invercargill, so that any I difficulties could be at once straightened out.

No permission was required from the Provincial Council for any district to form a farewell committee; however, for the sake of convenience the Patriotic Committee could also be the farewell committee for any district. This committee could organize an entertainment (and make a charge for admission) for bidding farewell or welcome to troops, and it was permissible to make presentations to the men from the receipts accruing from that entertainment. Any surplus could be held for future functions of that nature for a period of six months, but at the end of that time the accumulated surplus was to be banked for tranmission to the provincial account at Invercargill. After a number of questions had been answered by the speakers those who attended stated that committees would be set up in their respective districts without delay. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the representatives of the Southland Provincial Council for theirattendance.