PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2578, 28 September 1915, Page 9

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

EXECUTIVE MEETING 1 DISTRIBUTION OP FUNDS ' ' ' / Mr. C. M. Luke presided last night c m s®ting.of tho General Executive of tho rsew Zealand Patriotic Society. A letter, wliicii Lad been addressed to the president, (Mr; H. G. Hill) by Mr. 1. AV. Hislop, was ■ placed before the meeting. It read: "My friends and I, who waited upon the Victoria College Council, were greatly '> disappointed that you. and your friends of the Patriotic League did not carry but jour intention to also wait on tile council at the same time. Probably your absence was accounted for by jour not having the support of your committee.. If you in your representative capacity still desire to • havo the matter of Professor von Zedlitz's ap]Wintment discussed, my friends and I aio Willing to arrange with you to hold a, meeting, say, -on Monday night, in the Concert Hall, and we-will pay half the expense." _ Mr. ;R. Hall moved that, in view, of the. fact that the Government had taken action 111 the matter of Professor von Zedhta s position, no further action he taken bv tho society. Mr. J. M'lntosh seconded the motion, but asked if the College Council had been acquainted with the reason why the society had not appeared' before tlie council. ' • The secretary (Mr. ,T. Lewis) replied that the council liad been informed that, as a definite statement had been made b\ the Prime Minister in connection with. the. matter, " the society ' did not consider it'necessary to go on with the deputation. Oommarider Hooper then moved that, the letter be, referred hank to. Mr. Hill for him'to deal with as he thought fit. This was seconded, and carried without' dissent. i.; The. secretary''of•' the St!'' John ''AmJ>ulanoe ARRociation applied for a dona-t-ion of £100 from the sociatv's funds. The association had" (said the letter) been asked by His Excellency the Governor, to contribute about: half the beds on the Hospital Ship No. 2, together "With; requisites. - Hence the application. ■ .V ■ i. u It was unanimouslv resolved to grant tho donation asked for. '■ • Subsequently.the.matter, of this donation was reopened, and Mr. M'lntosh questioned the -right of the meeting to grant the. donation. The society was, he contended, a; body established for tho purpose of raising funds, but not for the distribution 'of- futods. He moved .to rescind ' the. resolution and delay. the<matter until.such time.as.the trustees were aprointed,; which would be almost immediately. ~ The : motion ; ivas seconded by Mr. Hall, but opposition to it-was raised by the secretary (Mr.' Lewis)., who argued that, in granting the donation, the society would only be distributing the! money for tho very purpose for which it had-been raised. ,-It' had been: decided: again- and again that the eociety hod power to distribute the money for the relief of urgent .cases, and h© .was against locking it up. In giving tho monev. to the St. John Association, tliey would only be fulfilling their promise oi;ieinallv made.. • '.. Mr. Ward supported, the view taken by the, secretary.. The association had a claim on ceitain of the money, and the £100-would only, be a payment on account. * ■■, - Tlie chairman said the only/question appeared to. be-whether the money could bo paid by, the exeoutive or the ti ustees. The association certainly. had x claim on a percentage of tho money, arid the trustees-were not likely to disapprove of the p'avment. 'After , further' disoussion it was decided to rescind • the motion to pave 1 the war for n further resolution. ■ Mr. E. : '"That a meeting of - the executive be called for October 4 for the purpose of appointing trustees /to deal with ,the funds 'of the society, .and'that the' secretary Rdvlso the St. John Ambulance - Association that the,.association's applica-tion-will be sulflnitted: to' the trustees with ithfl request that tho matter be favourably considered." This was seconded and oarried unanimously.:.