CENTRAL CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2613, 9 November 1915, Page 9

CENTRAL CONTROL

FOR PATRIOTIC EFFORTS TO PREVENT OVERLAPPING. A meeting held with the idea of gol ting co-operation in the various patriot! efforts of the City took place in th s Mayor's room, Town Hall, last niglil 3 Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) occupie 1 the chair, and there was a represents '' tive gathering from the executives of th ) various patriotic associations in th - City. hi opening the meeting Mr. Luk > said that there was a general opinio; that a good deal of the effort put fort' l in raising patriotic funds would hav r better results if they could have co ordination. .They had to thank th ■ people of t.ho City for their generou 1 response to tho various funds, but .h " had seen during the last few weeks tha ! there ha<l been a deal of overlapping 1 He had talked the matter over wit] ' members of the executive of variou 1 bodies, and it was felt that an endear 1 our should be made to overcome the dif ficulties, with the idea of working to gcther. He pointed out that some o the efforts in tho Town Hall had no ; been productive of that good result war ; ranted by the hard work done. Then • was also a certain clashing in the strec collections, and there were constant de i mands for collections in the parks. Hi thought if they could come to a settlec policy that tho public would appreciate it. With this in view he moved a mo' lion to the effect that a central com mittoe should be set up from the vari ; ous bodios, to prevent overlapping, anc that sanction sliould be given by thai Central Committee before projects wen carried out. In seconding the motion, Councilloi George Frost said that he realised thai something was necessary to prevent the clashing that had taken place. Mr. H. F. von Haast supported the motion, and advanced various questions which could be dealt with by a centra 1 body. He felt that tho different bodies sliould state what was their particulai sphere of action. 'Incidentally lie mentioned that it would be well if the Government gave more attention to the work of the Women's National Reserve. Mr. D. M'Laren suggested that the various patriotic bodies should review their Constitutions, and where there was similarity an endeavour should be made to combine. A central executive would have to be elected by the various bodies if they wore to have satisfaction. Mr. C. U. Smith suggested that tho resolution should be passed and submitted to the various bodies. They could set up an interim committee to draw up a draft on the lines on which they proposed to work. The ideas put forward hy the Mayor and other speakers only wanted to be put before tho different bodies to be generally accepted. ' : ■Mr. A. Marryatt thought they might go further, and ask the various bodies to put their constitutions in tho melt-ing-pot, with the idea of having a central control. He also thouejht that the Otago Society had given a good lead in this direction. Councilor L. M'Kenzie said that if they had an organising secretary to overlook all efforts there would be no clashing. They would have to have a good organisation at the fountain head. Mr. M'lntyrc (Natives' Association) said that the public was beginning to got a bit dubious, owing' to tho fact that practically no balance-sheets wero forthcoming for the various appeals made. Central control would be welcomed. Mr. W. Ferguson said that they were indebted to the Mayor for having brought tho matter up, but he did not think it would be desirablo to pass a formal resolution, at 1 that meeting. They had done well" hy discussing tho matter, and the representatives should now go before their societies. The Hon. J. G. AV. Aitken was of opinion that, without passing a formal resolution, they should set up a small committee to draw up a scliemo to bo submitted to tho various bodios. The Mayor agreed that ono society would be the ideal thing. Jle would ho satisfied if the chairmen of tho different bodies would associate with him in the meantime,' to prevent ovoriapping. _ They could then set np a small committee as suggested by Mr. Aitkon. A resolution to tho above effect was then, passed, the Mayor dropping his first motion. Further resolutions were also carried, _ affirming the desirability co-ordination of services by patriotic bodies, and that a committeo bo set up to draft a scheme for amalgamation. Tho committee appointed consisted of the representatives of all tho patriotic societies and the Hon. J 6. W. Aitken., The meeting' closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor.