GALLIPOLI DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2633, 2 December 1915, Page 2

GALLIPOLI DAY

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE

FUND TOTALS £2616,

A meeting of the Christmas Gift Committeo was held at the Town Hall last night, Mr. C. G. Wilson presiding. Tho principal business was tbe receipt of tho secretary's report covering the subscribed to the iund to date. The report was as follows:— 1 beg to report that our fund to date totals £2610 IDs. 3d. There are still some outstanding lists. All _ the amounts, however, are now m. . . . iho sehenio has not realised the amount anticipated, but this is easily accounted for. lii the first place, thero was insufficient time to organise the various sports bodies, and without a good organisation the best results cannot be obtained from a Is. fund. Again, Otago, Canterbury, and Southland had just completed a carnival, and Auckland was ill the midst of one, go that they could not. render any assistance. Tiio executive has received so much valuable assistance from numerous firms and people in tbe contribution of flowers, produce, refreshments,- cars, and assistance generally that it would be invidious to particulariso aiayoiie. A special word of praise is, however, duo I« the ladies for their arduous labours and cheerful assistance. The veathqr could not have been worse on 'Gallipoli Day,' but this in no. wise daunted the ladies, and the fact that they were instrumental in raising some _ £750 speaks volumes for their self-sacrificing eiforts. ... I would like to suggest that a Gallipoli badge be forwarded to lie.r Exccllency as a memento of 'Gallipoli Day. lam sorry to feel it- my duty to protest against the sub-commit-tee that controlled the surprise packets. The original scheme of placing,corns or postal notes in the envelopes was notadhered to. As soon as I became aware of this I protested that it was wrong to make uso of my name in connection with orders for suites of furniture, etc., but notwithstanding this protest tbe scheme was carried out, and a great deal of dissatisfaction has been f caused. Of this I have had to bear the brunt. 1 particularly wish thepub--lic to know that I had nothing whatever to do with the orders placed in tho envelopes. I have to thank tbe executive for assistance rendered, and I particularly wish to thank Messrs. li. A. Batt', A. Bayfield, and J. Wood for their very able assistance, also Miss Nome Morgan, shorthaiid-typisce, for assistance with tho correspondence. I regret to say . that I shall not be able to complete the collection of the lists, as I am obliged to-take a holiday owing to health reasons. One of my accountants, Mr. E. L. Enting, will, however, with the approval of the executive, arrange for the. getting in of tbe balance of the lists, and see . that tho amounts roceived are duly acknowledged and properly recorded. In my opinion, it will take at least a fortnight _to got thorn all in,'when the accounts in connection with the fund will be ready for tho auditor." .

Attached to the report was a statement showing the takings on Gallipoli Day—first day at £308 18s. 7}d., second day £090 12s. pd., subscription lists £1657 Bs. 2}d., total £2616 19s. 3d. Tho expenses wero estimated at about £250.

Tho report was adopted. It was proposed to acknowledgo the services of the secretary (Mr. H. Amos) by presenting him with an illuminated address, but Mr. Amos declined' to ac«H;pl) any gift whatevor, and stated that ho would bo more than satisfied with a vote of thanks.

The vote of thanks was accordingly Carried by acclamation. Votes of thanks were then accorded all those who had assisted, special mention being made of Mr. John Wood, of Dunedin, and of the Wellington Cricket Association.

Tho chairman then -introduced the question of tho distribution of the money, and stated that it would be necessary to send the • cablegrams to London within tho next few days. Mr. A. Marryatt, convenor of tho sub-committee for distribution, said that, if the fund could be increased to i! 3000, it would bo possible te givo sweets and tobacco to every man in the firing line in Gallipoli. and Samoa. The sub-committee had been endeavouring to obtain particulars as to the disposition of the troops, and-it was anticipated that something definite would be known to-day. On the motion of Mr. B. Guise., itwas resolved to leave the matter of .expenditure and distribution in tho hands of the sub-committee appointed for the purpose. Mr. E. L. Enting was appointed as-sistant-secretary to act in Mr. Amos's ibsenco, and Mr. C. B. Robertson was appointed auditor.