£5000 WANTED

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2117, 7 April 1914, Page 6

£5000 WANTED

FOR THE HUTT RELIEF FUND

MANY' DEPEDENTsSII

AN APFEAt TU'THEi'FIJBLIC

A meeting milled by' the' Mayo r; (Mr? J. 1 , . Lukej was hejd last; night, ■ iqr tho purpose of nsakieg some' combined effort to assist tho dependents of those kiiledi and injured at tbo. Upper Hutt lire explosion. ■■..■/;■■'' ''■'■'■' . .-• There were present: Tho Mayor<:--(in thu chair), Dr. Kemp, Messrs. R. 11. W«bb, P. J. O'Kcgai), A. M. Samuel, W. Woodi F. Towiiseiid, W. 1. 1-tues-toii, S. G. llainorton, If. W. Davidson, 1). M'Larcn, 0. Helicmarm, W. H. Caldow?W. Hobbs, and B. Tnte. I The Mayor said that, although somo would, look to the Government for assistance, there wero others, he said, who had to be assisted. . There were several relief funds open, but it was necessary to do something to havo coj&iincd action i and to jikco the fund on a permanent basis. . ' / Large Sum Needed, Mr. Webb, ■ chairman of the- Upper Hut* .Town .tkard, said that tlioso most interested in tlie calamity would appreoiatef * l ie Mayor's remarks, and Ins ettorts m acting so promptly_ to organise- tho rirk done- for tho relief of thesufferers.,. A boanl of trustees had been eot up at Upper Butt to administer fiutds and inquire carefully into tho Cases requiring need. Tho members of tho trustees wcro able to niako in , - ()uirk«, ami a sum of £3000, ho felt, would fall short of what . was required. A - sum of £5000 was what he thought was jieedeel. for there- were many children wlio would havo to be provided for, for many years to come. So far, they estimated thatapproximately £600 had been obtained. That was only a beginning, but with the organisation, proposed At the meeting, he was sure the required sum wo.uld soon bo forthcoming. Mr. .M'Laren suggested that a meeting of ladies might be called to assist. tie was sure all tho citizens of Wellington, would do what was required, i' Tho Mayor said that tho reason Mrs. Luko had. not called a meeting was that {.hey thought the- present meeting should bo* hold first. The ladies could assist in-taking up a street collection. H« had , also had a letter suggesting that a collection might bo taken up at Sir Joscnli Ward's meeting this week. Mr. M'taron moved that those present should form themselves juloa com* Miittee, with power to add to their Hum--.her, to forward the. relief fnnd, and tho Mayor moved: "That this meeting, recognising the claims of , tho dependents qf tho noble men who sacrificed their lives at tho firo at Upper Hutt, resolvo to raise somo adequate amount [or tho need of tho families, and further invite local authorities adjacent to ■the City of Wellington to eomu in with the committee sot up that night,' _ Mr. O'ltegait seconded tho motions, which were carried. Mr. 'JP. M.'" Wiffo-rd and Mr. J. J. M'Grath, who were unavoidably absent were added to tho ootn'mittee. Tlie Mayor thanked all tliosn ffho hid assisted up to <ktc, ami partjenlarly mentioned Mr, Samuel, wko had taken up a private fund. Publicity NoMssary. Mr. Samtiel said that ho was pleased that Mr. Webb had emphasised the largo amount which was needed. Tliat Should bo given tho greatest publicity., for tho majority of the people in Wellington did act know tho extent or tho disaster, and the number of dependents on those who had lost their lives. There n-ere others who had been injured and incapacitated from work. He understood that they* too, would bo entitled to relief. . Tho Mayor:' Yos. ■ ° Mr. Samuel said that ho had collected £150, in addition to the £50 ho got from Staples'e Breffery, whicli had been sent to the Mayor's fund. Ho cotild have »ot very imtch taoro* hut tho business people were desirous oi knowing how much was needed. As far as- tho committee was concerned they would havo to organise on a large scale' Mr. Townsg-nd said that the stint metitionecL Svas fence, and some strenuous efforts would be necessary to , raise it. He thought-it would be justas well if tho members of the committee were civen details ns to the dependents on the unfortunate men wlm risked ■ end lost their lives in a public dirty. If that was made isublic. before the committee set forth to take up colloetiwis, he felt tho response would be greater. Ho did not think they would have a great deal of difficulty if they took the matter up properly. Mr. M'ljarcn thought- they should sot to worlc at- once to make the appeal. If they made a strong appeal to the citizens to give an Enster offering, on Saturday and Sunday of this x week, flnd had dolloctious al) over tho eitv, there would be a goad response. He thought that a report might ho drawn up for the collectors, setting forth tho Weed of the fund. Provide For Children. Mr. O'Regan agreed that it was desirable that the public should have somo idea as to tlto number of the dependents. Some liad claims on tho Government, >»ut. the amount thoy would receive would bo quite inadequate to provide for the young children. Then there was one of the injured men with sine children, and they would require assistance. Tho facts might bo given to the collectors. Ho was also in favour of a ladies' committee being set up. The Wairnrapa district iniplit also be- canvassed. Tho best wa.v To ii«t canvftssers wouid be lo cail a mooting within the nest fow days, spociall-y inviting ladies. They conlii then lie' properly organised, jrnd various spctio.ns of the community given to.propi<rly ftuihori.«p.'l 'collectors. J)v. Kemp garo to tho committee- d<v tail-s'of those who would require' assistance, There wero about twenty, irwhid-injr-many young children for whom relief would bo needed for a nuniW of jye.nrs. I Tlie Slayer snid fli.it, tm wnuH ask Mis. Luiw to call a jmlioa' nn'(i(,!i"Kr! Mγ. ITollemann said that tin? lloynl Cltoral Society had dreidod mi i»ivin<: n. f-oncert in the Town Unit in aid «f I tiefund. Mr. Webb: "What wilt bo t.lio position with.resard to the bonrd of tni.sl<.'i'x sot up at 'Unper Hutt?" ' Tho Mayor: "f slmiilil say find titis would be the Centrnl puiiiniliro, iiinl thn other committees will liu nssncmlod with it." Mr. \VeW) :"I ouit<* njjrw, lml siotiip of tho trjistt'O.a, ilii' ioi>ri<Kiyilitlivos of tho religious dMinmimil-iwi.i, »inl J>r. Kemp are pecutiarly abl<> l.<i (?i'fi(k> stii tho oxact assistnueo required ifi ertoh case." Tho Mavnvt "We can ndd Mscm in tin's- nmnn'itl-^e." After fnrtlii>r sußCf'slimis lind liopu made, the follnwinsj Knmhl.i'vo flmimlitflo wa-s i<) iio lnl» iln- iM-atls for esnv-nssing Ib" city."— TJn> 3-Inyor, Messrs. SaiYino), Wobh. O'7'p;" l .". TsiwnRond. and Mr. I{, TiHo was appointed lion, secretary. The Public Apnea!. Tho executive met Inl-or, and drew up tin* fotlowiiHT ii|i|)oal to tli-o publio:— "At a public meeting convened by His Worshin tho Mayor, and hold in Urn Town Hall on the evenmc of ifonday, April 6 f Ifll-i, it was resolved to institute a. fund for tho relief of -tiwsrt who havo liopii dtprivml i>\ tlwir lircadwiiinors by tlje recent disaster at Upper

■Hsitt.y As tlw number of dcpendonts is Hot. less than twenty, of ■ wham th© majority a 10. children, _ somo of them 'very young, ailtl who will necessarily bo ill iiced of assistance for many years, it is estimated that fully ££UUO will ho required. ■ : O'Tho committco appeals with confidence, to the public to respond genoiwisly' to tho call which is now at ado on .them. Tile bearer, Mr. , is hereby. authorised to collect subscriptions, and the saino will bo acknowledged ill duo course." " The ..appealVwill bo signed by tho Mayor. - .Tho csecnt-ivo then adjourned till 4 p.m. to-morrow. ' At tho meeting of iho executive the Mayor made it quit.® plain that ivliilo the Central Comniittoo would make all i tho..collections and control the money> tli-o disbursement would be nuulo through tho board of trustees appointed at.Upper Hult. . "TUB DOMINION" LIST. £ s. d. Previously acknowledged ... 01 9 0 Three Sympathisers, liavolock 0 7 f» In as Mudi iJ 2 0 Total £51 18 C Tho following additional subscriptions have been received by Mr. Samuel:— Wellington Pipe Hand (at Lower iivstt), i' 4; J. J. Botirke, £',i Bs.: Young's Chemical Co., £2 Bs. j B, B. Oratigo, 0. W. Daeyertz, J. Marie, each £1 Is.; G. Cooper, 10s, 60.; A. Williams, ss. Total, £145 os'. Tho Mayor has received tho following additional donations towards the Oitv Fund: —I<\ Buck, sen., £5 55.; M. U.' Oddfellows, L'J: L. E' Partridge, £1 Is.; W, T, (Bulls). 10».; Mrs. Clifford (smith, 2s. <jd.; Mrs. Howe, 2s. On the motion of tlio Mayor (Mr. E. P. Bunny) it was decided at last night's meeting of tho Lower Ilntt Borough Council to authorise tho Town Cleric to open up a subscription list. Tho injured in tho Hospital, Messrs, M'Govem and Hagan, are still progressing satisfactorily.