DOUBLED!

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4544, 4 March 1942, Page 5

DOUBLED!

OTOROHANGA QUOTA ALL PURPOSES APPEAL PATRIOTIC REQUIREMENTS Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Otorohanga County Council on Monday, the chairman (Cr V. W. Simms) announced that the county’s quota for this year’s All Purposes Patriotic Appeal had been fixed at £4290. The chairman went on to say that their ouota (£4290) represented double the amount they were required to find on the last occasion. This time Kawhia had been excluded from their area, and would go “on its own,” having to find £1825. At the last meeting of the Council it had been 'lecide.d to confer with the E.P.S. V/ardens about its collection. Really it was a matter for the Patriotic Committee, but, unfortunately, that body sei med to be dead. They would, however, have to get busy to get the money in. It would be necessary to thoroughly organise their ways and means in order to get the money in by the end of the year. Their area this time excluded the whole of the Wharenuhunga Riding and portion of the Te Rau-a-Moa Riding. The southern end of that riding which was centred on Otorohanga came within their area. Where there was a little uncertainty about the boundaries these could be adjusted by mutual agreement. Cr J. L. Wallis said it seemed they had a hefty amount to collect. The chairman: Yes; double that of last time. The chairman added that the basis of allocation—population and capital value—might seem fair at first sight, but this was hardly so, as there was a difference between old and new partly-developed land. The former had been well established, while in the latter case the settlers were bringing the land in, and in many instances, particularly the southern part of the county, were battling to keep their heads above water. They would, he thought, have to get the Patriotic Committee goino” if not, the Council itself would have to get busy. Cr H. E. Walters contended that representatives of the Wardens should be on the Patriotic Committee,' as it would be they who would have to undertake the work of collection in the country districts. In his riding twenty Wardens had volunteered to do the work, and he thought they were entitled to representation on the Committee. Discussion was then adjourned till the afternoon to permit of the attendance’ of Mr F. O- R. Phillips, chairman of the Patriotic Committee. MEETING NEXT MONDAY When the matter was brought up in the afternoon, Mr Phillips was in attendance. The chairmah said £4290 had to be raised by'the end of the year. How were they to do it ? Mr Phillips remarked that the amount was double that raised last time. The chairman said the campaign would have to be well planned, and a >ot of thought and organisation given to it. They would have to go forward and approach every man, sharemilker, and employee in the county. Mi’ Phillips said that if the Wardens and sub-Wardens would meet, the Patriotic Committee would be pleased with their co-operation. He presumed that the collection would be by means of direct giving, instead of functions, which were very costly. In any case, people bought things at the latter, so really did not give direct to the Patriotic Fund. The chairman inquired the position of the Patriotic Committee. Mr Phillips replied that as some members had gone away it would be necessary to add to their number. The chairman said that in his riding he had more faith in the women than in the men. The former gloried in the work. Mr Phillips: They did a lot of splendid work last time ! Cr H. E. Walters said that at his end of the Mangaorongo Riding the twenty sub-Wardens had agreed to do the collecting. He thought they should have two representatives on the Pat-, riotic Committee. In response to inquiries by Mr Phillips, it was tacitly agreed that the appeal should be based on direct giving, and that each Councillor should send two Wardens to a meeting of the Patriotic Committee to be held next Monday evening, and also lady representatives. The Clerk (Mr S. J. Fortescue) reported that there were roughly 1000 residences in the county, including 250 in the town of Otorohanga. Cr J. L. Wallis expressed the opinion that in the absence of competitions there would be no necessity to break the county into sub-centres, as had been done at Te Awamutu. Cr H. C. Grierson thought the Wardens would be the ideal men to solicit donations, as they knew the ability of their neighbours to contribute. Cr Walters was of the opinion that there was only one way to do the job, namely, to assess the contributions expected from the various areas, which would give set objectives. It was finally agreed that the Patriotic Committee meet next Monday evening, when methods, area quotas, and the procedure to be followed will be finally decided upon.