FRUIT FOR SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 9

FRUIT FOR SOLDIERS

SUPPLY AT CHRISTMAS

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE MEETS REQUESTS BY EX-SERVICEMEN A decision to supply fruit and cigarettes to the men in Hopu Hopu camp over the Christmas period was approved yesterday when a meeting of the South Auckland Zone PatrioticCommittee was held in the Hamilton municipal chambers. The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro, presided, and also present were Messrs S. C. B. Macky (Waipa County), W. C. Kennedy (Piako County), J. N. O’Brien, W. A. Lee (Waitomo County), P. D. Crowley, S. J. Fortescue (Otorohanga County), F. T. Ray (Cambridge), W. M. Paterson, H. B. Fraser (Ngaruawahia), T. G. Reynolds, W. H. Paul, W. L. Waddel (Hamilton). Apologies were received from Messrs W. C. E. George (Huntly), W. Hetherington (Morrinsville) and Edgar James (Cambridge). “Owing to the difficulties of organisation, etc.,” said Mr Caro, “the zone emergency committee approved proposals to substitute a supply of fruit and cigarettes instead of Christmas puddings and parcels for men in the Hopu Hopu camp over the Christmas period. The Auckland metropolitan committee, which has charge of amenities for Papakura and the forts, intends to forward its extras for the New Year so that everyone will participate. We expect, however, to receive a limited supply of Christmas puddings and parcels, sufficient to treat everyone m camp at Christmas. These will go forward for that purpose. In addition, we propose to purcnase fruit and extra cigarettes, some of which have been given, and to forward the latter for distribution in the New Year.”

The chairman, Mr Caro, and the ; —.it secretaKu^, Waddel, were authorised to make arrangements accordingly.

Loan of Billiard Tables Advice that Princess Te Puea Herangi had offered to lend two fullsized billiard tables to the troops at Hopu Hopu was received from the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council, which stated that it had communicated with Wellington regarding the provision of suitable accommodation for recreational purposes. The letter was received. A request that a grant be made by the committee towards the purchase of two stretchers for men in the National Reserve Guard in the Hopu Hopu camp was received from the Waikato Returned Soldiers’ Association, which stated that some of the men, being married and with families, could not provide them from their own funds.

“It seems peculiar,” said Mr Reynolds, “if the men in camp have to buy their own beds.” Mr Caro explained that the ordinary soldiers did not have stretchers, but slept on palliasses. On Mr Reynold’s motion it was decided to seek more information regarding the necessity for the stretchers mentioned in the request. In reply to a further request from the Returned Soldiers’ Association, which asked that a grant be made to the Ngaruawahia sub-branch when it made a loss on smoke concerts arranged for officers, n.c.o.s and men at Hopu Hopu, it was decided to inform the association that the committee could not see its way clear to comply. Deputation to Minister Mr Caro gave a resume of the deputation which waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, at Morrinsville, last month, to seek more decentralised control of patriotic funds in the Auckland Province. The matter was fully explained to the Minister, who asked that the present relations be given a fair trial. If any difficulty due to the regulations hindered the committees the matter would be rectified. So far, said Mr Caro, no official reply to the deputation had been received in writing. The opinion that more decentralisation would give better results was expressed by Mr Lee. “The matter has been placed before the Minister, and if the money cannot now be collected the onus will fall on him,” said Mr Kennedy. “He has expressed the opinion that the regulations are satisfactory.”

Mr Caro was thanked for his report. At the close of the meeting Mr Caro extended the season’s greetings to the members of the committee, and Mr Kennedy reciprocated on behalf of the meeting.