PATRIOTIC FUND

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUND

Substantial Amount Raised Bay Carnival Concluded “Although I cannot give you the exact amount, it is with pleasure that I am able to announce that, through the efforts of the ’Crackerjack’ Concert Party in proving such a strong attraction to residents and visitors to come to the Bay and the generosity of the public, a substantial sum will be handed over to the patriotic funds as a result of the carnival,” said Mr W. W. Best, president of the Caroline Bay Association, in addressing the large gathering at the final concert on Saturday evening. With the unproved weather conditions, Caroline Bay was again popular with the picnickers and bathers. The merry-go-round and “chair o’ plane” were missed this year, but the train trips and pony rides found favour with the children. There were races in the morning and a junior “Quiz” session was a feature of the afternoon’s entertainment. Patrons crowded the games and competitions throughout the day, and at night there were large crowds until a late hour. The “Crackerjacks” Concert Party provided a special request programme for their concluding entertainment. The concert was followed by a programme of band music. Voluntary Helpers Thanked Speaking from the Sound Shell at the evening concert, Mr W. W. Best, president of the Caroline Bay Association. thanked the public for their liberal support of the carnival. “I also wish to thank our voluntary helpers and members of the concert party who have worked so untiringly.” The Mayor, Mr A. E. S. Hanan, paid a tribute to the hard work of Mr Best, the members of the Caroline Bay Association Committee, the secretary, Mr H. L. Warsaw, and their helpers, the Timaru Municipal and the Timaru Highland Pipe and the Timaru Harmonica Bands, and the members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade for their invaluable assistance during the carnival. “I hope that you will take away pleasant memories of Timaru and of our hospitality," Mr Hanan continued in addressing the visitors. “During the past year we had 2000 hours of sunshine in Timaru which is, I think, among the first six towns in New Zealand. ‘Sunny Timaru’ will welcome you again”. Patriotic Work Referring to the fact that the carnival was in aid of the patriotic funds, Mr Hanan mentioned that there were 11 patriotic committees in the Dominion under the control of the National Board. All the members gave their services voluntarily. The committees were non-polltical and were comprised of private citizens. In Canterbury £55,000 had been expended in writing- material, games and equipment for recreation facilities for. members of the Armed Forces, and over £60,000 had been expended in equipping soldiers’ welcome clubs at various towns. In connection with the work of the Lady Galway Committee and the Red Cross Society, Mr Hanan mentioned that in one centre 24,0001 b of wool had been knitted into 83,000 garments. The astonishing total of 42,000 cups of tea had been distributed and 65,000 sheets of notepaper supplied to members of the Forces. These figures told a striking story of services rendered. "We must be prepared to make even greater sacrifices this year,” Mr Hanan concluded. “Surely our men are worth it? They are doing their job. Do yours by subscribing to the Patriotic Funds! I see that to-day the news is better than ever. Our gallant Russian Allies have captured Velikiye Luki, an important German strategic base. In 1941 Hitler said: ‘The Russian Army is destroyed and broken.’ It has arisen and is now sweeping the enemy to his doom. ‘We have a greater hatred of England than we have ever had,’ Hitler said recently, so the Democracies will know what they will have to face if they are defeated. We must win this war, and, as has been said, ‘Give me liberty or give me death.’ Our soldiers have never let us down,” Mr Hanan concluded, “and I am confident that the people of New Zealand will never let them down.”