THE MAYOR'S PATRIOTIC FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2520, 22 July 1915, Page 9

THE MAYOR'S PATRIOTIC FUND

NOW IN DEBIT

THE COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITEIS

Messrs. J. P. Luke (chairman), the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, W. Ferguson, D. Ewen, L. M'Kenzie, the Rev. H. Van Staveren, H. Seaton, James Macintosh, C. B, Norwood, G. Frost, I. Duncan, tho Rev. J. Gibb, and A. R. Atkinson were present at a meeting "of the Mayor's Patriotic Fund Committee at tho Town Hall yesterday afternoon. As the meeting was practically the first since August last, the Mayor (as chairman) gave a general account of the executive's stewardship. Ho reported that up till August 28 of last year the sum of £2218 ?s. Bd. was received, of which amount £2000 was paid into tho Government Patriotio Fund. The Mayor then read a long list of payments that had since been mado from tho Fund. These were as follow: —Recreations and entertainments, nearly £1000; payment to the ambulanco abroad, £500; seats for U Shed (now in use in Trentliam camp halls), £100; donations to Regimental funds of New Zealand Artillery and New Zealand Engineers,- £100 each; gramaphone for Maunganui, £16 10s. 7d.; donation to band, £50; donation to camp , band, £110; donation to pipe band, £28 lis.; Y.M.C.A., £40 (towards building fund); kettle drums, £29 145.; donation Ladies' Military Guild, £100; to Rev. Mr. Dutton, £200; widow of dead' reservist, £19; wife of wounded soldier (for passage Home), £15; binoculars and compasses, £7 16s. Then there were other accounts connected with entertainments in the camp, fruit for the camp arid troopships, and fruit, tobacco, and cigarettes for soldiers. In all £3911 4s. lid. had been subscribed, and up till June 16, £3390 17s. Id. had been paid out. Since then accounts had been incurred to an amount that left the Fund £170. to debit. These latter accounts included ono for £240 for tobacco and oigarettcs supplied, to the four camps. Letters of appreciation had been received from all four camps thanking the committee for its gifts, and Colonel Fulton had written stating that the whole of the tobacco and cigarettes forwarded to his regiment (the "Trents") had been given to tho men. "Wherever I go," said the' Mayor, "whether it is the camps or the hospitals, tlie ono tiling they cry out for is tobacco, and ask 1 for more to be sent out."

The Secretary Resigns. Mr. C. R. Smith, who has been' the honorary secretary to the Fund since it was initiated, stated that though in the fullest sympathy with the work, he felt that he had not been able to do all'he would like to do. Owing to his frequent absences from town and' the increasing .calls 'made upon his time by his own business, he thought" it would bo in tho best interests' of the .committee if another secretary- were appointed who could give moro time to details and would be at the call of the Mayor and the -executive,--'

In resigning,. Mr. Smith- 1 said' ho thought it would be a good'idea to set up three or four standing committees. The wounded would now bo coming back regularly, and there should be someone appointed, to look after them, and see that they were not left to themselves. A special committee should also be set up to look aft&r the finances, which were now £170 to tlio bad. In referring to the secretaryship, Mr. Smith said that he did not know that it would not. be a reasonable suggestion that the secretary should be paid.. He would then bo a responsible officer, and at tho, call of the Mayor aiid executive,

■-"'The matter -if appointing a, successor to Mr. Smith, and tho setting up of sub-committees was left to tho executive.'

Assistance from Other Parts. It was mentioned by the Mayor that donations of £50 from. Auckland, £50 from Canterbury, - and £25 from Timaru bad been received'towards expenditure 011 camp comforts, which ' was, Mri Luko said, as much, a charge on the rest of the Dominion as it was on Wellington.

Mr. Smith said that Mr. Clark (Mayor of Dunedin) had promised £50 from the Duncdin Fund. •

The statement of finance was adopted.

The Plimmer-Hair Effort. The Mayor mentioned that tho whole of.the accounts in connection with t-ho l'limmer-Hall patriotic tour had been placed before him, and he, together with Messrs. Harry Plimmer and Winter Hall had waited upon the Prime Minister that day. He wislied' to thank those gentlemen for the noteworthy effort they mado throughout the whole of tho Do-' minion. The Prime Minister had agreed with liim that, under tho circumstances.. it would' riot be necessary to audit the accounts, though - Messrs. Plimmer and Hall were quite willing that it should bo done. Tho tour had resulted in a total of £3511 15s. Bd. being handed over to various funds. • Of that amount £2468 17s. 2d. had been paid into the Government for tho Belgian Fund (which carries a £ for £ subsidy), and the rest had been paid into various other local funds in the south. In conclusion, Mr. Luke said that Messrs. Plimmer and Hall deserved the thanks of the committeo and the whole of the people of New Zealand. (Applause.)