PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2356, 12 January 1915, Page 6

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

VEGETABLES AND CAMP EQUIPMENT

SOME CRITICISM

A meeting of the Mayor's Patriotic Fund Committee was held yesterday afternoon, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presiding. There were present: The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., Messrs. A. H. Miles, James Macintosh, C A. Ewen, R. D. Smith, Wm. Ferguson, C. M. Luke, Geo. Frost, A. H. Hindmarsh, A. R. Atkinson, and a visitor ill the person of Mr. H. Holland (Mayor of Christchurch).

In opening the meeting the Mayor extended a welcome to Mr. Holland, and stated that he had come to Wellington in response to a telegram which ho had sent to the Mayors of the four centres, asking .them either to _ attend, appoint a representative, or give him power to act in certain matters affecting the well-being of the reinforcements in camp, and those who would follow them. Auckland had replied that as ■ regards equipment they: had hitherto acted directly . through the Auckland Patriotic Committee, and asking that any proposals made be forwarded for their consideration. Dunedin had also asked the Mayor to sub-, mif proposals respecting the comfort of the troops in camp. Mr. Luke said that he had called the meeting to disouss certain improvements in the camp at Trentham. As to the locality and the utilitarian conditions of the camp he did not think they could be improved upon. It was more in connection' with matters that the Department did not cover—to provide those nice little things that they would like extended to themselves were they there. There were differences of opinion and he valued them very much. As far as the Department was concerned, it had responded in a very noble way, but there were things they ought to do. One. thing that had been mentioned was the provision of fruit and vegetables, and any parcels • that were sent to the Town, Hall would be sent out daily._ He also wished to interest the committee in the provision of band instruments—not to be taken away on shipboard and probably lost when the men were separated into sections at the front. His suggestion .was to obtain funds for the purchase of instruments for a. band—not to g"o out of camp. His idea was that the instruments should he there for the use of each reinforcement, as it came into camp. Then there was the question of officers' equipment, notably Mr. Allen's suggestion that field glasses might be supplied. He had also received a letter from the Medical Association about the establishment of a field hospital. It was estimated that £2000 would cover the cost of'the erection of the building and its equipment, but not its running cost. Still another matter was the conveyance of concert parties to_i.and from Trentham. The good condition of the men in camp was preliminary to their good condition at the front, and if they could increase their comfort it would be a benefit to the men and a credit to the Patriotic Committee. What Christchurch has Done, Mr. H. Holland said ne had. not come to Wellington to instruct, but to gather information. The relations between the Wellington and Christchurch Committees had been very happy, and whatever was decided upon they could rely, on Canterbury doing its duty. In Christchurch they had had a number of committees at work. There was the Countess .of Liverpool's Committee for providing comforts for the men, and an Equipment Committee to look after that branch of the work. For instance, every mounted officer had been given fifteen guineas, and every infantry officer ten> guineas towards their equipment, in addition to what the Government supplied. * A mounted officer's equipment cost about £50, which seem•ed a severe tax en a man's _ loyalty after offering his services to his country. The Mayor's Patriotic Committee's fund was reserved for the support of the wives and dependents of the married men wkho had gone to the front. That fund amounted, to £16,500, and, was to be supplemented by grants from the City Council, Harbour Board, and the M'Lean Institute. It had been invested with the City Council at 3 per cent., which yielded, sufficient'now to support 20 women and 38 children, on the following basis:—Wife, £1 per week; first child, 10s.; second, 7s. 6d.; third, 55.;, and , any furthor children, 3s. 6d.,per week. These payments were only mado on condition that the husband left half his pay behind. He and his committee : thought it was tho duty of the State to provide the full equipment of officers and men, but in the matter of swelling the comforts of the men he was in full sympathy' with the Mayor. They would all agree with him that there had been a good deal of overlapping. Hundreds of garments had been left behind when the troops left the camp in Christchurch, and at Trentham a large amount of clothing was left on the ground when the Expeditionary Force left, and was collected for the use of the reinforcements. They had felt it a little difficult to keep up the same enthusiasm in Christchurch as when the troops were parading through the streets two or three times a week— more difficult than when, they had men in the camp' in their midst. Now the men left for Wellington half a dozen at a time, and few know who they were or when they were going. He had visited the camp at Trentham on Sunday, and confessed that all the fears he had entertained were dispelled as to tho quality of the food and the way it was cooked. The meat wah of good quality, and it seemed to him that there was a reasonable variety of food. It was not what' you would get in \ first-class hotel, but it was good wholesome food, and thero was an abundance of it. Christchurch would do its share towards providing instruments for a band, which was of very great value, and the Mayor's idea of providing notor vehicles for tho conveyance of concert parties was an excellont one. He thought, too, that the idea of establishing _ a library was a good one. As to fruit, they had had in Christchurch a number of late frosts, which had affected the crops, and unless they could get a considerable quantity thero would hardly be a taste for each man. He realised that these men were going away probably to experience great privations, and that no matter what sacrifices they who stayed at home made they could not compare with the sacrifices tho men who were going away were prepared to make. (Applause.) The Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C., said that two concerts a week were •already being given at tho camp, one. by the Y.M.C.A. and another by tho Presbyterian Church people. The Highland Society had arranged to give a concert next Monday evening Interjm Report. Mr. Smith (secretary) said he had received a letter from tho Y.M.C.A. pointing out that somo organising was required to prevent any clashing. Ho read tho following report, a resume of what the committee had already dono: "Since the inception of tho committee your executive have held a number of meetings, and dealt with various matters' connected with tho welfare of the New Zealand Contingents going forward to the seat of war, and also made somo provision for their immediate necessities at tho front. "OF the amount received £2000 has been remitted to the Prime Minister to augment the Government War Fund, £700 has been remitted through tho Mish Commiwioaer. for the use of £he

ambulance section and other divisions of our Contingent in the fighting line; £166 ss. has been expended for the benefit of the troops in camp, and on shipboard—leaving on hand a Balance of £'850 4s. 2d., which your committee feels will be quite inadequate to meet tho various demands that may come upon them as soon as our men get into action.

"The matter of assisting in the recruiting has been under consideration of the members of the executive and other citizens who have met with them. In. ■ deference to the views expressed by the Minister of Defence, no steps are being taken at present to organise public meetings in this direction, but the chairman hn6 consented to accept applications (if called on to do so) for enrolment, which will be registered and the men called on when required. "The executive have pledged the members of the committee to each and all do what lies in their power both with employers and men to urge the necessity for prompt response to tho call of the Empire both by personal service of the men and generous and self-sacrificing action on the part of the employers. We feel .that nothing will be lacking as the noeds of the situation become more clearly demonstrated to prove the loyalty of every citizen of Wellington. "In view of the very small balance on hand, your committee trust that further efforts will be made and contributions 6ent forward to augment these funds. "The executive cannot close this report without expressing their sincere appreciation of the work done by their Entertainment and Sports Committee, who by various, functions organised raised in round 'figures £1000 tor our U60." Recruiting Satisfactory. The Mayor said ho had been in daily touch with the Prime Minister and the Hon. J. Allen, and had been keen to arrange a public meeting to aid recruiting, but Mr. Allen had given him the assurance that there was no need for a

public meeting, as recruits were coming forward satisfactorily. (Applause.) Mr. Wm. Ferguson, referring to the field hospital proposal, said that the hospital should be built by the Government as part of the ordinary camp equipment, and if there were any more desirable ways of spending tho money they should turn down the hospital for the present. The Mayor asked Mr. Ferguson if he would move in that direction, and Mr. Ferguson moved that the meeting did not intend to contribute towards . the erection of a field hospital. The Mayor said l he would like to see consideration of the motion postponed until- they got further information. After all, the letter (from Dr. Elliott) was an appeal to the people of Wellington. Mr. Luke also interpolated" here that the Mayor's Fund had never been given a chance in Wellington. The money had gone to the Prime Minister's list—money that should have gone to the Wellington fund had gone into the Government fund.

' Mr. Ferguson's motion was then put and carried. 1 Vegetables! Mr. 0. M. Luke said that in regard to the dietary scale he considered that it was as' much the duty of the authorities to provide vegetables for the men as meat or bread. Fruit night be attended to, as it was outside the range, and be in the nature of a luxury. He said that vegetables should be provided the same.as any other food and the ■Government should find the equipment for the officers as well as for the men. He held the opinion that it would be a good thing to appoint a small committee to investigate all matters in connection with the camp, and bring them under the notice of the Government. If they were successful in ' that, thero would be no necessity to appeal to the public. "It seems to me," said Mr. A. H. Miles, "that vegetables are absolutely necessary to the dietary scale, and it was a matter that should be attended to by the Government." He had heard that the men had been without green vegetables for three weeks. If that were so the heads of the Government or the Defence authorities were lacking in their duty. • It was a matter for the commissariat to see that the men were properly supplied. ' Mr. Aitken said that the men had potatoes and cabbage. The plea had been made that it was very much too costly to supply all the men in camp with a variety of green vetgetables. It was cheaper to provide vegetables than find them in ill-health afterwards. (Hear, hear.) The chairman proposed that Messrs. Macintosh, Ewen, and himself bo the Camp Committee to see into these matters.—Carried. "As Necessary as His Sword." Mr. William Ferguson, referring to the field-glass proposal, said that fieldglasses were just as much a necessity to an officer as his word—they were absolutely essential. At the time the first contingent was dispatched they were to have been provided, but the Government could not get them. If the committee oould buy them, the Government could. He moved that the committee do not subscribe to the purchase of field-glasses.-^Carried. The Mayor asked what was to be done about the band.. He would suggest that provided Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin shared the cost the instruments be procured. Mr. Aitken seconded the motion, and moved that, they be vested in a board of control. Mr. C. M. Luke proposed that Messrs. J. P. Luke, J. G. W. Aitken, and Wm. Ferguson be the Board of Control with power to act. Mr. Smith's name was subsequently added to the board. The Skirl of the Pipes, Mention was made of a set of pipes supplied to the men on the Willochra, payment for which had not yet been completed. The Mayor said he was sure the committee would not like to see the gentleman held responsible mulcted with the amount owing. Nothing was decided in this connection.

Mr.. Aitken incidentally mentioned that ho would like to see a pipo band established at the camp: As there was a paucity of Scotchmen on the committee, the proposal was n9t taken u,p. Mr. Smith said that the Executivo Committee had authorised gifts of tobacco and cigarettes to the men in camp at Christmas time. Tho account amounted to £119 Is. 5d., less a discount of £2 18s. 3d. The account was passed for payment. Letters had been received, from the mon at Trentham, tho guard at Somos Island, and the men at the forts thanking the committee for its goodnvill and kindness during the Christmas season. An officer, now at Trentham, wroto asking the assistance of the committeo towards securing four kettle-drums, to improvo the marching and lessen tho fatigue. This matter waß referred to tho Band Board.