PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22690, 18 August 1945, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

NEED STILL URGENT MAYOR’S APPEAL TO CITIZENS “Now that armed hostilities have ceased, for which all are thankful, we must concentrate our efforts on raising the town and district’s quota of £20,000 for the anniial patriotic appeal,” said /the Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. D. Caro, this morning. Mr Caro said there should be no relaxation of the effort, plans for which had already been announced, for only the foolish would suggest that the money was not needed. As chairman of the Patriotic Committee he could say positively that every penny that it was possible to raise would be needed. “Citizens should be inspired by the good news of this week to give even more freely and generously than ever before,” said Mr Caro. As a matter of fact, he continued, practically all of this year’s total being raised by the National Patriotic Funds Board was already spent or ear-marked for expenditure in providing the comforts so much needed by the men of the fighting forces, who were likely to be still required for many months to come, even though actual hostilities had ceased. Requirements During Transition There would be an army of occupation during the transition period from war to peace; there were the men in hospitals and on hospital ships, the men on furlough in Britain and elsewhere, and not forgetting the women who also were serving gallantly and uncomplainingly. All of them were entitled to the best that the people in New Zealand could give them in the way of additional comforts and articles for personal use. The National Patriotic- Funds Board had done a great work, but if was not relaxing, continued Mr Caro. The board could continue to serve only by the full co-operation of the people. All sorts of slogans to stimulate money-raising had been adopted in the past, but the present appeal for funds could be based on thanksgiving and thankfulness I that hostilities had ceased, for this meant no further casualties such as those that had harrowed parents, mothers, lovers and children during j the past six years.