NATIONAL PATRIOTIC FUND BOARD (REPORT OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER, 1941.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1943 Session I, H-22a

H.—22A,

1942. NEW ZEALAND.

NATIONAL PATRIOTIC FUND BOARD (REPORT OF) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30th SEPTEMBER, 1941.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly pursuant to Regulation 21 of the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations 1939.

The Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs. The New Zealand National Patriotic Fund Board has the honour to present its second annual report and balance-sheet for the year ended 30th September, 194:1. I. Introductory. In this report, which presents the results of the second year's operations of the New Zealand National Patriotic Fund Board, a very great increase in the activities of the Board is recorded. This increase shows itself not only in the extension of activities previously carried on, but generally in the development of new types of efforts and new spheres of activities. Some idea of the extension can be obtained by a reading of the Board's accounts printed at the end of this report. The eleven Provincial Patriotic Councils are autonomous bodies, and therefore, the report of the Board does not cover their activities, except in so far as their work is directly related to that of the Board. 11. Expending Agents of the National Patriotic Fund Board. A great deal of the patriotic work for which the Board is responsible is carried out through agents financed by the Board, and as there is considerable public misapprehension as to the status of these expending agents it is desirable to set out, briefly, their operations and their relationships to the Board. The main expending agents which work directly with the fighting forces are the Young Men s Christian Association, the Church of England Military Affairs Committee, the Catholic War Services Fund Board the Salvation Army, the Navy League War Council, and the Air Force Relations. The Joint Council of the Order of St John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society is concerned as an agent of the Board with the provision of extra comforts for the sick and wounded and in regard to the Prisoners of War Information Bureau and prisoners of war weekly parcels. Other expending agents are the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association, the Lady Galway Guild, the Public Service Association, Overseas Seamen's Gift Committee, the Commercial Travellers' Association (for blind ex-servicemen), the Country Library Service (books, periodicals, and newspapers), and the New Zealand Sheepowners Acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund. All these agents have rendered conspicuous service in their allotted spheres. In the public mind, however, the wartime services performed by these organizations as agents oi the Board are in some respects not dissociated from their peacetime activities, and even many servicemen who use the recreational huts and amenities of these organizations fail to realize that the people of New Zealand through the patriotic bodies, and not the staffing organizations, provide all the money spent on the war comforts work of these welfare organizations. The privilege granted to expending agents in displaying their names and symbols on the Board's recreation huts in camps has tended to create this erroneous impression. The actual position is that the huts have been built, equipped, and are maintained from patriotic funds. The Board has arranged for the placing of suitable notices in each recreational hut and the painting of the Board's name alongside that of the expending agents on the outside of the huts, and this should in future assist in giving credit to all concerned for their work in the co-ordinated scheme. . , „ , , f ■ In clearing up a general misunderstanding the Board m no way detracts from the work ot its expending agents, but merely desires to clarify the position and to reply to frequent uninformed statements that welfare organizations are doing all the work and that patriotic bodies spend little or nothing 011 tl lt must, however, be emphatically stated that if the national welfare organizations had not been included in the general scheme the Board could not have carried out its work so expeditiously and well. 111. Work for the Navy and the Merchant Navy. (a) New Zealand Naval Forces.—ln view of the arduous duties and the isolation involved in much naval work the Board has made a special endeavour to provide extra comforts for the men, in addition to those provided by the New Zealand Navy League War Council and other bodies. Provincial Patriotic Councils superintend general work on behalf of naval personnel stationed in or visiting their territories. The Board provides for the urgent and special requirements of the Service generally and of visiting naval men and New Zealand naval units proceeding abroad for service, lor some New Zealand ships requests were made for bulk supplies of tinned fruits, &c., and these were supplied in

H.—22a,

lieu of the quarterly gift parcel which is otherwise provided for each sailor, together with an issue of the woollen comforts, sports gear, and other amenities. As an indication of the extent of this work the following is an example of the comforts issued to one ship of the Royal New Zealand Navy in November, 1940 : Christmas annuals and books, writing-pads, and envelopes ; 50 dozen chocolate (in sealed tins) ; 20 dozen assorted jams; 20 dozen tins fruit; 20 dozen (12 oz.) sheep's tongues; 10 dozen tins condensed milk ; 4 cases of cigarettes (20,100); 2 dozen 1-gallon tins Solpak apples ; 2 dozen 1-gallon tins apricots ; 2 dozen half-gallon tins plums ; 1 dozen 1-gallon tins plums ; 2 dozen 1-gallon tins peaches ; 6 dozen tins peas ; 6 dozen 21 oz. tins carrots ; 22J dozen 22 oz. tins french beans; 8| gallon tins gooseberries ; 3 1-gallon tins gooseberries ; 22| dozen 30 oz. tins pears; 2 dozen gallon tins parsnips ; 1,000 periodicals ; 510 books. (b) Navy League Seafarer's Comforts Swpply.—ln May, 1940, at the suggestion of the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, the New Zealand Navy League War Council was established for the better organization of the supply of comforts for seafarers in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and adjacent waters, and for our own men on naval ships operating off the New Zealand coast. The main function of this Council is to supply knitted garments, of which some 60,000 have been despatched from depots established at Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington, to Sir Sydney Fremantle, Chairman of the Navy League Seafarers' Comforts Supply, London. The Now Zealand Navy League War Council, as an agent of the Board, has also supplied comforts to ratings on ships of the New Zealand Royal Navy. Every man leaving New Zealand to join the Royal Navy or the Fleet Air Arrn receives, at his last parade in New Zealand, a " blue bag " which contains a balaclava, a scarf, a pair of mittens, a body belt, a hussif, a pair of sea-boot stockings, two pairs of socks, and a pullover. All the knitting and spinning is done by the ladies' auxiliaries in centres where the Navy League is established. Ihe Board desires to acknowledge its indebtedness to Mr. R. Darroch, Hon. Secretary of the New Zealand Navy League War Council. . .. (c) Naval and Merchant Navy Patriotic Sub-committee of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee—ln Auckland a special sub-committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Charles H. T. Palmer, has been formed for the purpose of supplying special comforts for men of the Navy and Merchant Navy. The specific function of this body is to supply gift parcels to naval personnel overseas and to men of the naval and merchant vessels leaving Auckland as a last port of call in New Zealand and to crews of mine-sweepers and isolated coast-guard stations. (d) The Overseas Seamen's Gift Committee, Wellington—Work similar to that performed by the Sub-committee in Auckland is carried out for the crews of merchant ships making their final port of departure south of Auckland, by the Overseas Seamen's Gift Committee, Wellington, under the chairmanship of Captain F. A. Mclndoe. As an example of the type of work done by this Committee, every member of the crew of the first ship to participate in the scheme in November, 1940, received a parcel which contained 1 lb. mixed sweets, 1 block chocolate, 1 lb. honey, 1 stick shaving-soap, tobacco, and cigarette papers. In addition, books were placed on board and some knitted garments. Similar parcels are placed on every overseas ship. IV. Work foe the Aie Force. (a) General.—The main distributing agent of the Board in regard to Air Force comforts is the Air Force Relations, mentioned below. In addition to the work of this organization, the Board arranges direct for comforts to be placed on each vessel on which our drafts proceed overseas, together with a sum of money, which is in charge of the Conducting Officer, for any emergency that may arise during the voyage. In addition to this service, the Board forwards gift parcels and cigarettes at quarterly intervals. . (b) Air Force Relations. —During the year the considerable expansion of the Air Force has resulted in increased work devolving on the Air Force Relations, a body which, as the agent of the Board, provides comforts and amenities for members of the Air Force in New Zealand and overseas. Branches of this organization are situated at each R.N.Z.A.F. Station in New Zealand, and representatives see that the men on the stations are issued with woollen comforts and a hussif while undergoing training and again before leaving for overseas. Nine other branches in various centres assist by sending knitted goods and tinned foods to the headquarters office in Wellington for despatch overseas. The Board desires to pay tribute to the work of Mrs. P. H. Saunders, President, and Miss Constance Morice, Hon. Secretary. Y. General Work by Expending Agents. (a) General. —The Young Men's Christian Association, Church of England Military Affairs Committee, the Salvation Army War Purposes Committee, and the Catholic War Services Fund Board all operate recreational huts and related facilities in camps in New Zealand. The Y.M.C.A. and the Church of England Military Affairs Committee carry out similar work overseas on behalf of the Board. These establishments are erected at the cost of the Board and running-expenses are paid by the Board. All are provided with notepaper for issue to the men, free of cost. Surpluses, if any, from the operations of the cafeterias run by these institutions are payable to the Board. A more detailed statement of the activities of these agents is given hereunder. (b) National Council of the Young Men's Christian Association of New Zealand, Incorporated. — A major part of the work of the Board in New Zealand and overseas is carried out by the Y.M.C.A., which, on the 30th September, 1941, operated in forty-five camps and stations in New Zealand and employed 119 men, apart from voluntary workers. The turnover in these huts for the year was £73,560, and the surplus payable into the Board's funds was £4,443. Receipts amounting to £7,356 from the staffing of the post-offices attached to Y.M.C.A. recreational huts are also payable to the Board. The capital value of the huts and marquees staffed by the Y.M.C.A. in New Zealand camps is £52,519, and the value of the equipment £22,004. Overseas the Y.M.C.A., as an agent of the Board, has rendered magnificent service in providing comforts and amenities to men engaged on active service. The reports of Y.M.C.A. workers in England, in the Western Desert, in Greece, Crete, and elsewhere indicate that almost insuperable transpoit and

2

H.—22a

other difficulties have been overcome and that these men have lived up to the true spirit of service in supplying the fighting men in changing front lines with all canteen services and comforts at their There are fifty-two Y.M.C.A. men overseas, including one in Canada, one in London, several in Fiii and the balance in the Middle East. Four New-Zealanders were sent to assist the British Y.M.C.A. in the Middle East, one of whom was in Tobruk during the period of the seige and has since been Reports show that cordial relations exist between the Y.M.C.A. officers, Lieut.-Colonel Waite, the Board's Commissioner, and the Service Chiefs in the Middle East, who have repeatedly expressed their appreciation of the tireless energy and high standard of service of the Y.M.C.A. officers in attempting to alleviate the lot of our men under active-service conditions. The wide distribution of our men in the Western Desert has called for more mobile services than are usual in a static war front, and the Y.M.C.A. and Church Army officers (referred to later) have adapted their organizations in such a manner that an efficient service has been made available, personal services undertaken by these desert welfare officers include private purchases sometimes to the value of £400 per trip on behalf of men in scattered units. This extra service may be likened to an expansion of the mail-car facilities given to outback settlers in New Zealand. The following Y.M.C.A. secretaries and orderlies are now prisoners of war Secretaries : Ledgerwood, J. H.; Long, F. E. S.; Mclvor, I. B. ; Hunter, J. D. K., Riddell, G. C. ; Johnston, T. R. ; Pritchard, A. J. Orderlies : Grieve, W. H.; Thompson, C. E. ; Gow, D. W. ; Hill, L. M. The Board desires to express its appreciation of the splendid work performed by the Y.M.C.A. officers in New Zealand and overseas, and 1 wishes to pay a tribute to the services performed by the National Secretary, Mr. R. M. Brasted, whoso zeal and energy have been an inspiration to the men under his charge and a source of gratification to the Board. (c) Church of England Military Affairs Committee.—This organization., popularly known as the " Church Army," operates both in New Zealand and overseas as the Board's agent. As at the 30th September 1941, the Church Army operated five recreational huts and two marquees, and overseas it serviced one recreational hut and three marquees. Apart from voluntary workers, the staff engaged in servicing these huts numbered twenty-one, six of whom were overseas. The capital value ol the huts and marquees referred to above is £14,521 and of furniture £2,840. . r, \ ,i Approximately forty thousand " Service " books were issued for the use of troops in New Zealand, overseas, and on hospital ships. , ~,, The tribute paid to Y.M.C.A. officers applies with equal emphasis to Church Army officers, ihe Board desires to pay a tribute to the work of Mr. A. S. Kempthorne, Secretary of the Church of England Military Affairs Committee. - Mr. J. W. Walton and Mr. C. L. Wright, two members of the Church Army, are now prisoners ol (d) Salvation Army War Purposes Fund. —As at the 30th September, 1941, the Salvation Army operated, as an agent of the Board, in twenty-seven camps and stations and at approximately one hundred posts in New Zealand. Apart from voluntary workers, twenty-nine men were engaged during the year. The capital expenditure on huts and marquees provided by the Board as at the 30th September, 1941, was £12,871 and equipment £7,746. The work of the Salvation Army is similar to that reviewed lor the other national welfare organizations. The tribute paid to the Y.M.C.A. and to the Church Army is also due to the Salvation Army for its efforts on behalf of our fighting services. 1 articular mention should be made of the work of Colonel F. W. Burton in this regard. (c) Catholic War Services Fund Board.—As at the 30th September, 1941, the Catholic War Services Fund Board, as an agent of the National Patriotic Fund Board, staffed four recreational huts m military camps and maintained marquees and other comforts and welfare facilities at nine other centres. The capital value of the huts provided by the Board amounted to £10,261 and furnishings to £2,201. Apart from voluntary workers, seven full-time officers were engaged m supervising the work in these recreation huts. . .. „ n The Board desires to pay tribute to the work of the Right Rev. Monsignor T. I'. Connolly, V .U., and to Mr. P. F. Foot, Secretary of the Catholic War Services Fund Board, and to the Catholic War Services Fund Board generally for its work among the fighting services. (f) The Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society. (1) General; All work in providing comforts and amenities for the sick and wounded and prisoners of war is carried out for the Board by the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, which has eleven Provincial Joint Committees operating in various parts of New Zealand. Calls during the year from the various zones overseas and in the Dominion have been heavy, but all requisitions have been fully met. Over and above the Council's responsibility for supplying supplementary needs, valuable aid has been accorded to the Army Medical Service in meeting calls made upon it for hospital supplies through the Council undertaking to fabricate the materials into the articles required without levying a charge for the labour involved. It should be noted, however, that the Council's principal obligation is to meet requisitions for goods which are supplementary to Army supplies, and the Council has determined that in all its operations the comfort and welfare of the patients must constitute the paramount consideration. Various hospital and convalescent depots within the Dominion have been supplied with similar comforts. Through the agency of the various committees many people have made up and sent in all manner of goods. The design and finish ol the fabricated articles are of an excellent standard. Considerable quantities of foodstuffs, preserves, and suchlike commodities have been sent in and distributed among the various convalescent depots at camps throughout the Dominion. Such items have been donated, and therefore do not appear as a charge against the Sick and Wounded Fund. With each departing quota of trainees, supplies of extra, comforts to meet sickness and any emergency have been placed on the respective vessels by which the trainees are proceeding overseas. At the destination any surplus on hand, is handed over to the Medical Officer in charge of the depot.

3

H.— 22a

A grant of £1,000 has been made to each N.Z.E.F. General Hospital and £500 to each ambulance unit overseas. This is placed at the disposal of the Medical Officer in Charge and is available to provide extra comforts of an emergency nature for the patients under treatment. Hospital ships have been given supplies, and New Zealand naval units have been supplied with medical equipment and comforts for the benefit of the men under treatment in the sick-bay. Similar comforts have also been provided for the Clearing Hospital at Aotea Quay, Wellington. Regular visits have been made to camp hospitals in the Dominion, where cigarettes, tobacco, sweets, preserves, and reading-matter have been distributed. In addition, comforts have been supplied, as requested, in the form of radio sets, chairs, tables, and games. During the year the National Patriotic Fund Board advanced £23,500 to the Joint Council, and the balance a3 at 30th September, 1941, held by that body was £845 17s. 3d. Major W. G. Tweedy, M.8.E., has been appointed the Red Cross Commissioner in the Middle East to work in conjunction with Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, D.5.0., who previously occupied a dual position. During his stay in England Dr. Alexander Gillies kindly undertook to discharge, in an honorary capacity, the duties of Red Cross Commissioner there. These duties are now being carried on by Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Myers. The Board desires to express its appreciation of the services of Mr. M. S. Galloway, Joint Secretary. (2) Prisoners of War : Prisoners o : f War Inquiry Offices have been set up in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Data has been printed and circulated for the information of the public, special contact being made with the next-of-kin so that information as to the procedure of corresponding with and sending parcels of clothing to their menfolk taken prisoner may be available. In addition to the large volume of inquiries received for prisoners of war and concerning missing soldiers, the official next-of-kin labels are supplied at regular quarterly intervals to those concerned. The personnel of the Joint Council at the four main centres attends to the censoring and repacking of next-of-kin parcels under the supervision of the Censorship Officer. A branch has been set up to deal with prisoners-of-war food parcels. Until such time as parcels from the Dominion began to arrive in the prisoner-of-war camps, arrangements were made with the Canadian Red Cross Society to supply 2,500 food parcels weekly for transmission through the International Red Cross to our prisoners of war. VI. Patriotic Work Overseas. (a) New Zealand Forces in Fiji.—The Board's activities overseas were increased by the despatch of contingents of New Zealand Forces to Fiji, where provision was made for the erection of five recreational huts in various places where the men were situated. Mr. H. C. Ford, Senior Y.M.C.A. Secretary in Fiji, acted as the Board's Honorary Commissioner there until his return to New Zealand, when Mr. F. L. Smith, Manager of the Bank of New Zealand in Fiji, was appointed to this position. Both these gentlemen have rendered valuable service in this connection. A soldiers' club has been erected in Suva, which contains all the amenities usually associated with such clubs. It is serviced by a committee of local residents on a volunteer basis. Before this club was erected the Suva Church of England conducted a small club in the Parish Hall and gave excellent service to the men. In another town in this area a soldiers' club was established in a large building reconditioned by the Board. This also is staffed by local residents. Two large and one small Y.M.C.A. buildings have been erected by the Board in the various camps, and this organization is doing excellent work for the welfare of the troops. The Board also made a grant of £800 towards the provision of extra amenities for the officers' and sergeants' messes in this area. Since their arrival on the Island the men have been liberally supplied with sports gear and other amenities. Two talkie machines, one of which is portable, have been supplied, and a large picture-hall was erected at one of the base camps. Local residents of Fiji have assisted in entertaining our men. Prominent among the local organizations working for the benefit of our men is the Suva Catholic Welfare Organization and Club, which has provided amenities in the crypt of the Suva Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. This club was formerly the Catholic Young Men's Club of Suva. This worthwhile service on behalf of New Zealand men is a local effort subsidized by the Board. (b) New Zealand Forces in the Middle East.—At the commencement of the Board's year our main troops overseas were stationed both in Great Britain and in the Middle East. The work carried out in Great Britain by the Board was of a temporary nature only, marquees and mobile units servicing the troops. During the year the Second Echelon joined the main forces in the Middle East, and comforts and amenities were placed on the troopships transporting them. Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, the Board's Commissioner, accompanied the troops, and took over from Mr. F. E. S. Long in the Middle East, who had been acting as the Board's Commissioner there. Soon after the amalgamation of our forces in the Middle East there came Greece and Crete. When the division moved off for active service matters of policy had to be determined, and it was decided to service the Forces as follows: — With the Division in the Field : The Y.M.C.A. and Church Army facilities, with mobile canteen units, mobile cinema units, and the provision of sports materials. Allowance for all Chaplains with which to provide immediate amenities. Subsidies to Regimental Funds : The Scattered Units not at Base : Subsidies to Regimental Funds. Troops at the Base: Y.M.C.A. and Church Army Services, Chaplains' Services, sports organization, Kiwi Concert Party, and Base Bands. The gift parcels and free issue of cigarettes and tobacco forwarded quarterly from New Zealand continued for both base and forward area troops. On the evacuation of our troops from Greece and Crete many of the gift parcels forwarded from New Zealand were converted into prisoner-of-war parcels and sent through Turkey to our prisoners of war. The services mentioned above cost, during the year, the sum of £97,324. (c) The New Zealand Forces Club, Cairo.—This club was opened on the sth February, 1941. Financial assistance was given by the Board, which guaranteed the rent and up to £1,500 towards

4

H.—22a

building alterations and equipment. Major Harvey Turner was appointed Manager of the club and the success of the club is largely due to the capable manner in which he carried out his duties. The club has more than proved its value in the months which have ensued. (d) Lowry Hut, Maadi.—On I.7th July, 1941, the Lowry Hut was opened in Maadi Camp. This hut was built from funds (£10,000) donated by Mr. T. H. Lowry, Hastings, whose daughter (Mrs. Chapman) is in charge. The hut is administered by the Y.M.C.A., and is an outstanding amenity much appreciated by our forces. (e) Assistance to British Forces in Egypt. —Apart from the considerable expenditure involved in providing comforts for our own forces in Egypt, the Board gives assistance to British forces stationed there. The Board approved the payment of travel and equipment expenses and salaries of four men from New Zealand until such time as they arrived in Egypt, and were attached to the British Y.M.C.A. The expenses of six New Zealand women workers attached to the British Y.W.C.A. are subsidized by the Board. All New Zealand recreation huts are open to British soldiers in uniform, and the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo and the club in Alexandria arc freely used by British forces. From time to time grants of money are made to the Tippcrary Club, the Services Club, and the Homestead, lielwan, all of which are controlled by the British Comforts Fund Organization. The New Zealand Kiwi Concert Party and the New Zealand Mobile Cinema unit give performances to British troops, and in other directions every effort is made to co-operate in the entertainment of British forces adjacent to New Zealand units. The Board makes grants to the British Comfort Fund, the Royal Naval Benevolent Fund, and the Boyal Air Force Benevolent Fund for comforts for British forces, irrespective of where they are stationed. Reports from Egypt show that a spirit of comradeship exists between men from all British and allied countries concentrated there, and that recreation and club facilities, as well as gift parcels, provided by New Zealand Patriotic Funds are spontaneously shared with men from other countries when units are intermingled in hospitals or camps. (/) Loss of Comforts in Greece and Crete.—The evacuation resulted in serious losses of comforts and material supplied by the Board, and considerable expense was entailed in replacing these losses which included woollen comforts, band instruments, and general equipment. In order to assist the evacuated men after their trying ordeal extra comforts were given to them on their return to Egypt, and a small cash grant was made from the Board's funds to enable the men to replace essential personal gear. (g) Comforts for Men in the Far East. —When New-Zealanders were sent to the Far East, Mr. C. R. Knowles was appointed the Board's Honorary Liaison Officer. Following this appointment various comforts were supplied to our men in the Far East. Illustrated daily and weekly newspapers were made available, and an imprest was opened to enable Mr. Knowles to deal with urgent requirements on the spot. Up to the end of the year under review every effort had been made to care for the comforts of the limited number of Air Force and Navy personnel in that theatre of war. (h) Films on Transports.—As far as possible the Board has arranged for the supply of films to every transport leaving New Zealand and in this connection valuable assistance has been given by the Film Exchange Association of New Zealand Incorporated in providing suitable films free of charge. (i) " N.Z.E.F. Times."—During the year considerable thought was given to the provision of a suitable newspaper for our fighting men overseas. The Board financed the N.Z.E.F. Times, Cairo, through its preliminary stages. From its inception, this newspaper has been eminently successful, 10,000 copies being printed weekly and distributed free to the troops. The paper is now selfsupporting. The staff has been provided by the Public Relations Office of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (j) New Zealand Forces in the United Kingdom. —When the Second Echelon was transferred to the Middle East the New-Zealanders remaining in Great Britain, apart from the Forestry Units, were attached to either the Royal Navy or the Royal Air Force, and could not be contacted collectively. Practically all gifts required to be personally addressed and sent through the post. The New Zealand War Services Association, under the chairmanship of the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan, undertook this work, and the care of our forces generally in Great Britain. The Board despatches to this association gift parcels, woollen goods, and bulk supplies of comforts, for distribution, and the High Commissioner has been supplied with an Imprest Account for welfare work amongst our Forces. The Board desires to record its appreciation of the splendid work carried out by the High Commissioner and the New Zealand War Services Association, in Great Britain. (k) New Zealand Forces in Canada.—For the purpose of serving New Zealand Forces in Canada the Board, in conjunction with the Australian Comforts Fund, opened a club in Halifax, which was known as the " Down Under " Club. This club has been staffed by the citizens of Halifax, but the Board has a permanent officer there, Mr. K. M. Gresham, of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. The New Zealand Liaison Officer in Ottawa has operated as the Board's distributing agent for gift parcels and cigarettes. VII. Special Phases of Patriotic Wobk. (a) War Library Service.—The total issues of books and periodicals to the Navy, Army, and Air Force in New Zealand and overseas to 30th September, 1941, were : Books, 125,432 ; periodicals, 136,223. The Board wishes to express its appreciation of the services of Mr. G. T. Alley, of the Country Library Service, and his staff, for undertaking the supervision of this work on behalf of the Board, and also to record its thanks to the Librarians throughout New Zealand who have co-operated with the Country Library Service in this work. (b) Provision of Band Instruments. —Waiouru Camp was provided with a complete set of instruments, and many minor demands were met from all the fighting services. All the equipment supplied to the 4th and sth Brigade Bands and to the Pipe Bands was lost in Greece and Crete. These bands have been re-equipped. The total amount of money expended on bands, both abroad and within the Dominion, during the twelve months was £3,849. (c) Production and Issue of Woollen Comforts. —Large quantities of woollen comforts have been issued to New-Zealanders on active service abroad. A proposal was considered that woollen comforts

5

H.—22a

be issued to troops prior to embarkation, but owing to the fact that our men m tropical climates do not always require such woollen goods the Board decided to adhere to its policy of building up the bulk supplies in Egypt and elsewhere for issue to the troops, if and when required. In the case of NewZealanders leaving the country to join the Royal Navy or Royal Air Horce woollen goods of various kinds are issued prior to embarkation. Essential woollen comforts have been issued to men on isolated stations in New Zealand, and the question of issuing essential comforts to all men serving in ew Zealand was under consideration at the close of the year. n , , m. The following table shows the number of knitted articles handled by the Board. lhese were knitted by the women of New Zealand from wool obtained by the Board tor the Provincial Patriotic Councils. The Board desires to record [its appreciation of the splendid service rendered in this connection.

Knitted Goods supplied from the National Patriotic Fund Board's Store as at 30th September, 1941.

VIII. Assistance to other Countries. (а) Greece. —F olio wing a suggestion from the New Zealand High Commissioner in London the Board decided to present to our Allies in Greece 10,000 pairs of socks, 5,000 pairs of blankets, 2,000 Dullovers, at a cost of £10,000. . „ • i , (б) Air-raid Sufferers in Great Britain.—Following the continued heavy bombing;ofßritish towns the conference of patriotic bodies held in June, 1941, decided that a further £100,000 (New Zealand) be remitted to the High Commissioner for distribution among various organizations dealing with distress (c) The New Zealand Lady Galway Patriotic Guild. —Much valuable work has been carried out by this guild in collecting clothes for distribution among evacuees and distressed people in England, bcotland, Wales, and Ireland. The guild has been assisted by transport organizations and shipping companies in conveying goods free. Reports from the Women's Voluntary Services for Civil Defence of Great Britain show that from the County Borough Clothing Depots gift clothing sent to England is distributed through rest centres for persons rendered homeless by air attack. IX. Anzac War Relief Fund, U.S.A. During the year valuable work was performed by the Anzac War Relief Fund of New York, and among the various comforts provided for New-Zealanders on active service were Christmas hampers of approximately six hundred parcels, which contained handkerchiefs, safety-razor blades writingpaper envelopes, shaving-soap, dentrifrice, condensed milk, canned pears oysters, aspirin and chewing gum. The citizens of the United States also gave generous help to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in providing twenty-five ambulances, one mobile dental unit and costly medical equipmen , cigarettes, books and magazines, mobile canteens, £1,500 to furnish the New Zealand Expeditionary Force club in Cairo, and radio headphones for use in military hospitals. X. Summary of Work of the Board. The following list gives some idea of the extent of the Board's activities in providing for the welfare of our troops in New Zealand and overseas. . , , i Recreational Huts in Camps.—Every recreation hut or marquee in camps in New Zealand and overseas staffed by welfare organizations mentioned earlier has been built, furnished, and is maintained from patiLti funds. Upwards of two hundred huts and marquees in New Zealand and overseas are now maintained on behalf of the Board. . . , Cafeterias are equipped by the Board, and usually return small surpluses, which are paid into the Board's funds. Receipts from post-offices in huts also paid to Board Troopships. —Games, sports gear, writing-paper, music, song-books, envelopes, fruit, talkie films, costumes, reading-material. Bands. —Fourteen complete bands equipped. Clubs.—London, Cairo, Suva, Lautoka, Alexandria, Halifax. Subsidies to Clubs. —Tipperary and Services Clubs, Cairo ; Homestead and Kiwi Clubs, Helwan. Tobacco and Cigarettes— Quarterly gift issues. Allied Armed Forces.—Temporary services en route, and grants to comforts funds. Regimental Funds.-Subsidies to Navy, Army, and Air Force Benevolent Funds, and modified grants to similar service funds where desirable.

6

I Pullovers Skull Caps Bala- Gloves Socks J j£ ugs jf a . Mittens. Scarves, i and and elavas. (Pairs). (Pairs). | j | Jerseys. Miscellaneous. — j Army Department .. 1,705 236 220 47,024 lr > Ir? io tsf Air Force relations 8,946 2,370 3,442 5,242 10,276 10,457 12,184 issues t 13 9 fcyDepartoent !'. 6;551 176 1,690 M65 4,407 1,367 81 Navy League issues .. 10,449 123 2,318 98 7,229 9,13o , , SnJgned o°™L to 66!600 235 '884 !! n.m 70,480 1.176 323 £S22T**~ » 36 89 25 7 10» 70 .. Totals .. 94,367 3,179 8,659 56,498 98,450 95,369 16,851 3,227 Stocks on hand .. 5,679 U5~ 1,095 1,041 3.749 3,937 2,915 1,128

H.—22a

Mobile Talkie Plants, Canteens and Kiwi Concert Party (equipment) for servicing men in New Zealand and overseas. Padres Allowances (weekly grants overseas to assist necessitous cases) and issue of testaments. Gift Parcels Scheme. —Organization and despatch; freight alone £20,000. Overseas Commissioners. —United Kingdom, Cairo, Fiji, Singapore. Agents. —Sydney, Colombo, and Bombay, Halifax. Grants to Organizations Overseas. —For air-raid sufferers and comforts for allied armed forces in special circumstances. Woollen Comforts. —Collection and distribution of woollen comforts provided by Provincial Patriotic Councils. XI. Appeals fob Finance. (a) One Million Pound Appeal. —In order to co-ordinate the work of the various Provincial Patriotic Councils and related organizations in securing the best results for the Dominion-wide £1,000,000 appeal, Major J. Abel was appointed Honorary Organizer. The outstanding success of the appeal was in no small measure due to the energy and ability displayed by him in co-ordinating the work of the thousands of helpers in all parts of the Dominion. (b) Anzac Night Radio Appeal. —With the co-operation of the National and Commercial Broadcasting Services and the Post and Telegraph Department, the Board arranged a National Telephone Radio Appeal for patriotic funds on Anzac night, 25th April, 1941. This resulted in approximately £50,000 being raised. (c) Film " One Hundred Crowded Years." —During the year the Government loaned to the National Patriotic Fund Board two copies of the New Zealand Centennial film " One Hundred Crowded Years," and with the assistance of an advisory committee, representing all branches of the motion-picture industry, the Board arranged for the showing of this film in the larger centres of the Dominion. XII. Personnel op the Board. The Board is a geographically representative body of prominent citizens giving their services voluntarily. In November, 1940, the Deputy-Chairman, Hon. Mark Fagan, M.L.C., resigned from the Board owing to pressure of parliamentary duties and indifferent health. From the inception the Hon. Mr. Fagan had devoted much time and attention to the affairs of the Board, and his resignation was accepted with much regret. The Hon. Mr. W. Perry, M.L.C., a member of the Board, was appointed by the Government to the position of Deputy-Chairman and Mr. J. Bead, Wellington, was appointed a new member to fill the vacancy. At the same time Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P. (Egmont), was appointed an additional member. In January, 1941, Viscount Galway, who had been the Board's Chairman since the inception, was farewelled at a meeting of the Board prior to leaving for England, when the following motion was carried unanimously : — " That this Board place on record its keen appreciation of the services rendered by His Excellency the Governor-General as Chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board, and of the excellent work carried out by Viscountess Galway in connection with the Lady Galway Patriotic Guild." On his arrival in New Zealand the new Governor-General (Air-Marshal Sir Cyril Newall) consented to occupy the position of Chairman of the Board. In February, 1941, Sir Robert Anderson, Invercargill, a valued member of the Board, resigned owing to ill health, and his resignation was accepted with much regret. XIIL Board's Overseas Commissioner, Middle East. The Board wishes to express its grateful appreciation of the services rendered throughout the year by Lieut.-Colonel the Hon. F. Waite, D.5.0., M.L.C., who with the aid of a keen Welfare Committee in Egypt has displayed conspicuous ability in organizing and supervising the provision and distribution of comforts and facilities for our men stationed in widely-scattered areas radiating from Egypt. The mobility of our forces has made this task more difficult. It has been a source of gratification to the Board to learn from the regular reports received that general satisfaction has been given to all concerned in the Middle East sphere of operations. This work has been made possible only by the whole-hearted co-operation of the Board's two chief expending agents overseas, the Young Men's Christian Association and the Church of England Military Affairs Committee, whose officers have had a trying time during the year in England, Egypt, the Western Desert, Greece, and Crete, in servicing our men with the comforts made available by the generosity of the people of New Zealand. XIV. Appreciation. The Board wishes to express its appreciation of the generous action of the Government in paying the salaries of the staff and the rent of the Board's offices. The Board also wishes to express its appreciation of the services of the many voluntary workers. Special mention should be made of the work of Mrs. M. R. McCrae, who has given full-time voluntary service supervising the packing and unpacking of woollen comforts in the Board's store. It would be invidious to mention by name the many organizations which have assisted the Board in its operations during the year, but to one and all the Board desires to express its sincere thanks. A review of the year's work would not be complete without reference to the assistance given by the National Patriotic Council, the eleven Provincial Patriotic Councils, and their secretaries, who aided by thousands of voluntary workers, have co-operated to the fullest extent. The results achieved by the Board have been made possible only by this willing co-operation and assistance. Finally, the Board desires to express its sincere appreciation of the work of the staff during a very strenuous year. This report covers the period Ist October, 1940, to 30th September, 1941. Many new activities and arrangements have subsequently been made to provide for the comforts of men in the armed forces, but as these fall outside the scope of the year under review they are not referred to herein. For and on behalf of the National Patriotic Fund Board. Geo. A. Hayden, Secretary-Treasurer.

7

H.— 22A

NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL PATRIOTIC FUND BOARD. Receipts and Payments Account fob, Year ending 30th September, 1941. Receipts. General Sick and Payments. Oeneral Sick and Fund Wounded U Wounded unu. Fund J! una. Fund. £ £ Comforts for troops and others— £ £ Donations .. .. .. .. 27,462 24,868 Overseas— Donations for specific purposes .. .. 10,810 .. Huts, equipment, &c... .. .. 15,439 1,025 London Distress Fund (balance of 1040 Appeal) .. 72,987 Comforts, maintenance, &o. .. .. 67,708 Donations: Blind Soldiers' and Sailors' Fund Reinforcements .. .. .. 1,843 No. 2 .. .. .. .. .. 154 Convoys for troopships .. .. .. 100 Contributions by Provincial Patriotic Blankets for Greece .. .. .. 10,274 Councils— Overseas seamen .. .. .. 1,247 Budget quotas for general administration.. 174,615 .. Overseas hospitals, hospital ships, &c. .. .. 21,944 Remitted to London Distress Fund for 1941 100,000 .. Troops in New Zealand .. .. .. 4,647 Wool for knitting .. .. .. 19,38G .. Purchases for stock (for issue as required).. 6,650 Blankets for Greece .. .. .. 10,211 .. Library service for troops .. .. 516 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 6,874 .. Mercantile marine .. .. .. 140 Proceeds— M ilitary bands : Purchase of instruments and Reclamation of waste .. .. .. 7,544 .. music .. .. .. .. 3,850 Art union .. .. .. .. 2,273 .. Grants — Government grant towards huts .. .. 4,000 .. Regimental funds .. .. .. 7,102 Interest on investments .. .. .. 328 6,778 Equipment funds .. .. .. .. 5,038 Investments matured .. .. .. 60,000 .. Grants to organizations— Refund— Overseas .. .. .. .. 5,975 19,404 Suva Canteen advance .. .. .. 1,354 .. In New Zealand .. .. .. 500 Cost Lowry hut, &e., in Egypt and England 9,125 .. New Zealand Forces Club, Cairo — Part unexpended imprest (Bombay) .. .. 457 Goods forwarded for sale .. .. 18,133 Unexpended balances of grants .. .. 40 107 Advances for purchase of equipment .. 4,836 Receipts: B.M.A. War Service Fund .. 6,615 .. Mobile canteens : Cost of vehicles and stocks 4,774 Recouped from New Zealand Forces Club Recreational huts, furniture, and equipment for goods supplied .. .. .. 13,303 .. in New Zealand .. .. .. 87,069 589 Miscellaneous receipts— Authorized expending agents in New Zealand New Zealand .. .. .. .. 6,999 3 for provision of comforts for troops and Egypt .. .. .. .. .. 3 others — England .. .. .. .. 1,524 288 Air Force Relations organization .. 4,161 — Catholic War Services Board .. .. 2,595 462,463 105,645 Church of England Military Affairs ComCash balances, Ist October, 1940 .. .. 11,298 4,167 mittee .. .. .. .. 11,252 Imprest balances, Ist October, 1940 .. 2,275 18,193 Joint Council of the Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross Society .. .. 20,361 Lady Galway Patriotic Guild .. .. 496 Navy League War Council .. .. 544 Salvation Army War Services Committee.. 8,429 Y.M.C.A. War Services Committee .. 30,832 Purchases of wool for knitting .. .. 22,020 Prisoners of war: Parcels, supplies, &c. .. .. 11,942 London Distress Fund .. .. .. 100,000 Advances— Suva Canteen account .. .. .. 1,354 Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. 6,046 Expenses in connection witlf appeals : Recoverable from Provincial Patriotic Councils 3,296 Specific receipts paid over— £ Lowry Trust: Van, lounge, and hut 9,625 British Red Cross .. .. 4,000 French Red Cross .. .. 500 Provincial Patriotic Councils— Proceeds sale waste material .. 5,042 Specific donations .. .. 4,330 Proceeds art union .. .. 2,008 Refunds of duty recovered .. 265 Miscellaneous .. .. .. 113 25,882 Purchases for supply to various Patriotic Committees .. .. .. .. 3,224 Welfare payments .. .. .. 106 405 Special Fund payments — Bag-pipes Fund .. .. .. 15 B.M.A. War Service Fund .. .. 3,523 Furniture, fittings, and equipment: Office, store, &c. .. .. .. .. 58 Administration expenses .. .. .. 882 882 Miscellaneous payments .. .. .. 514 22 466,032 81,612 Imprests outstanding .. .. .. 8,455 10,332 Cash balances at 30th September, 1941 .. 1,549 36,061 £476,036 £128,005 £476,036 £128,005 Note.—The rent of premises and salaries of staff of the National Patriotic Fund Board are met from the Public Account,

8

H.—22A

NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL PATRIOTIC FUND BOARD—continued. Income and Expenditure Account for Year ending 30th September, 1941. Expenditure. General Income. G en e ral $ckand lund. Fund I'una. Fund Comforts for — £ £ £ £ Troops overseas .. .. •• 65,474 .. Donations .. .. .. .. 29,597 4,312 Reinforcements .. .. . • 5,178 .. Grants from New Zealand Government .. 4,000 Convoys .. .. .. 100 .. Provincial Patriotic Councils .. .. 177,200 Overseas seamen .. .. .. 1,406 .. Interest.. .. .. .. .. 154 7,198 Troops in New Zealand .. .. .. 5,826 .. Sundry refunds .. .. .. .. 1,156 Mercantile Marine .. .. .. 183 .. London Distress Fund Appeal .. .. .. 72,987 Military bands: Purchase of instruments and Miscellaneous receipts .. .. .. 477 music.. .. .. . • • • 4,024 Library service for troops .. .. • • 518 Conforts for overseas hospitals, hospital ships, &c. .. .. .. . • • • 27,980 Grants for regimental funds . . • • 6,602 Grants to— Patriotic organizations in New Zealand .. 606 251 Patriotic organizations overseas .. .. 5,975 14,903 Red Cross organizations.. .. .. .. 4,376 Expenses in connection with prisoners of war.. .. 11,653 Expended by Board's agents in New Zealand — Air Force Relations .. .. • • 4,167 Lady Galway Guild .. .. • . 496 Navy League .. .. . • • ■ 544 Catholic War Services Fund Board .. 2,932 Church of England Military Affairs Committee .. .. • • • • 11j 260 Salvation Army .. .. ■■ 7,461 Y.M.C.A. .. .. .. •• 27,760 Joint Council of Order of St. John and New Zealand Red Cross .. .. .. •• 20,361 Depreciation on buildings, furniture, and equipment .. .. •• 43,155 196 General administration — £ Freight and cartage .. .. 544 Insurance .. .. .. 25 Office requisites .. .. 27 Postage and telegrams .. .. 71 Printing and stationery .. .. 103 Salaries and allowances .. 439 Store expenses .. .. 386 Telephone services .. . • 10 Travelling - expenses of Board members .. .. . • 13 Sundry expenses .. .. 38 1,656 Allocated : Half General Fund, half Sick and Wounded Fund .. .. .. 828 828 194,496 80,549 Surplus, transferred to Accumulated Funds .. 18,089 3,948 £212,585 £84,497 £212,585 £84,497 2—H. 22A.

9

H.—22a.

NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL PATRIOTIC FUND BOARD—continued. Balance-sheet as at 30th September, 1941. Liabilities. General bounded Total. Assets. Wounded Total, .buna. Fund. , ' *una. £ £ £ £ £ £ Accumulated funds, Ist October, 1940 124,341 458,216 582,557 Recreational hutsAdd surplus of income over ex- In camps in New Zealand .. 60,870 penditure for year ended 30th Overseas 11,972 September, 1941 .. .. 18,089 3,948 22,037 72 842 72 842 Accumulated funds, 30th September, , . . t< 142,430 462,164 604,594 Furniture, fittings, and equipment m 1 camps and hospitals, &c., in New o lti j £ Zealand . . .. • • 25,440 393 "" 1 Bag-pipes Fund .. *28 Furniture, fittings, and equipment B.M.A. War Service Fund 5,575 m camps and hospitals, &c., over5,603 .. 5,603 seas .. .. •• 6,54b 1,025 Sundry creditors .. .. •• 27,365 620 27,985 Exchange Fluctuation Reserve .. 51 51 ' ' ' Furniture, fittings, equipment (general)— Office.. .. •• •• 91 Mechanical office appliances .. 206 Store .. .. . ■ ■ • 85 Air Force Relations .. .. 150 Lady Galway Guild .. .. 15 War Library Services Branch .. 22 569 .. 569 Papakura Hostel.. .. • • 1,293 .. 1,293 New Zealand Forces Club for cash advanced and goods supplied .. 8,171 .. 8,171 Investments — Treasury bills .. . ■ • • • • 360,000 Fixed deposit .. .. .. • • 60,000 Accrued interest thereon . . .. 1,824 421,824 421,824 Sundry debtors .. .. •• 27,701 .. 27,701 Stocks on hand, overseas, and afloat 13,257 .. 13,257 Imprests outstanding in New Zealand and overseas and cash in hands of agents .. •• 11,230 10,332 21,562 Cash in bank and in hand, 30th September, 1941 .. .. 1,549 36,061 37,610 £638,233 £638,233 a==:. IT-ssbs " Contingent asset: Salvage of furnishings, radio, &c., supplied to Army, Navy, and Air Force messes and guard posts in Now Zealand and overseas. Geo. A. Hayden, Secretary and Treasurer. I hereby certify that the Statements of Receipts and Payments, Statements of Income and lixpenditure, and the Balance-sheet have been duly examined and compared with the relative books and documents submitted for audit and correctly state the position as disclosed thereby, subject to the following exceptions : (1) Certain books of receipts supplied by the Board to authorized collectors in connection with the Fighting Services Welfare Appeal, 1940 and the Sick, Wounded, and Distress Fund Appeal were not returned to the Board for audit; (2) owing to the loss of certain statements and vouchers the Audit Office was unable to certify wholly to the accounts of certain canteens in Egypt. —Cyeil G. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General.

L, Approximate Cost of Paper.—P reparation, not given; printing (715 copies), £21.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1942. Price, fid.]

10