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.

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