WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2695, 15 February 1916, Page 2

WAR RELIEF

MEETING OP ASSOCIATION INTERESTING DETAILS

Messrs. W. Ferguson (chairman), A. R. Atkinson, S. Kirkcaklie, L. 0. H. Tripp, C. M. Luke, C. A Ewen, J. Hutcheson, E. J. Colley, Alex. M'lnlosli, and I). M'Laren wore present at a meeting of the War Relief Association, held yesterday afternoon.

A committee of Messrs. Ferguson and S. Kirkcaklie reported that it had waited on ,the Wellington branch of the Red Cross and Military Hospital Guild, the St. John Wellington Nursing Division, and tiie St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas, and a full and general discussion took place. The committee recommendod that: (1) The association makes a grant to the St. John Ambulance Brigade Overseas of the ' £200 requested; (2) a grant of £10 a mouth to the Wellington Nursing Division. The Wellington branch of the Rod Cross- and Military Hospital Guilds .stated that they are not at the present time in need of funds, but that they will approach the association when necessary.

From the discussion that took place, the committee is of the opinion that at the Ambulance Conference, to b* held at Christclnirch on. February 215, all the societies and guilds doing Red Cross work should be represented, and at such conference some scheme should be arranged ,to properly define the workto bo amongst the different societies. The report was adopted. Mr. Ferguson addjed tha.t lie had learned that the St. John's Brigade Overseas was not to be represented at the conference, which was, he thought, a great pity.

The Coming Conference. Tho chairman reported that a letter had been received from Mr. Cray, of the South Canterbury Patriotic Society, strongly "urging that a preliminary conference to that being held by the Patriotic Committee's of New Zealand here on Thursday next, to which, ho had replied that lie did not sec that there was any object to bs served, particularly as Auckland and Dimcdm were ]iot 'to be represented at the conference. Further letters liad passed, and it was reported that Dunedin was to be represented. Mr. X'ergnson then approached tho Mayor of Wellington, and requested him to telegraph Mr. Gunson (Mayor of Auckland) to induce him to agree to Auckland being represented, and th'e telegrams (already published) were read. He had _ also interviewed the Minister of Public Health, and gathered from him that lie was going to give facilities for a free and full discussion at the conference. The Minister's idea was that tliey ought to break themselves (tho delegates to'the conference) into committees to discuss the several phases of the work involved, and for them to bring down reports. Deserving Cases. The chairman mentioned tho cases .of soldiers who were in need of lielp between tho time they bad beon discharged from the service and heloru they had heard from the Pensions Board. In tho opinion of tlio cllatiinan, the Government should continue to pay suck men until they had lieard definitely from the board. It was resolved to submit the matter for discussion to the conference of patriotic societies to be held this week. About Land Crants. An Imperial Reservist applied for assistance by way of a land grant. The chairman doubted whether the grants i applied to Imperial men, but recommended tliat the matter . lie referred to the Minister concerned in order to clear up t'he point. He certainly thought. Imperial men should have the same advantages as any others.

Soldiers' Hostel Board. A discussion took place in respect to the relationship of the association to the Soldiers' Hostel, which is in need of monetary assistance. Tlie outcome of the discussion was that Mr. Tripp was added to t'ho Hostel Committee, and lie is to ma!w investigations and interview Mr. 1). C. Levvoy. (secretary of tlie iiosfcei). Free Baths for Soldiers. On the matter of free baths fos soldiers,, a letter was received through the Patriotic Society from Mr. tr. A Troup (president ot the Boys' lusti tute) mentioning the statement that had been made at the opening of Wie institute's tepid baths on Tuesday evening, and proposing that should the association agree u- an arrangement a certain number of tickets could be left with the Camp Commandants for .distribution to men coming to Wellington. A similar letter bad been forwarded to the Minister. Tlio chairman stated that he had conferred with tho Minister, who realised that nil tho soldiers who may wish to enjoy frea baths were not from Wellington. Tim Minister's proposal was that the associaiSon should pay half and tho Government half. Unless tho men were undergoing medical treatment in somu way the chairmnn did not think they could pay half or anything towards free baths. They would be strictly within tbeif rights in doing so where a man was not well, but for healthy men arriving in town from Trent-ham Camp, lio was not so sure_ that they would bo acting withm their rights according to their rules. If the tickets were to be distributed by the Camp Commandant they would not ho to .invalids. Those soldiers who were in perfect health did not come within ibo scope of the association's powers, Iml in the case of a wounded or- invalided man who wanted baths, tho secretary would soon find tickets for him. There the matter was allowed to rest. A Peculiar Request. A letier signed by some half-dozen officers, mostly of the 14th Reinforcements, and sent in to tho Patriotic.Society, was forwarded on to tho War Relief Association. The writers or tho letter requested pecuniary assistance to iie.'p towards the cost of their equipment and glasses, owing to the inadequate sum provided by the authorities. Mr. Ferguson said that the secretary (Mr. Wills) had written to Mr. J. Lewis (secretary of the Patriotic So, cie'ty), asking him under which rules of the association he thought the officers should be assisted, but up to. the pre, sent no reply had been received from Mr. Lewis.

Miscellaneous. It was resolved that no action fee t'aiien in respect to a letter received from the New Zealand Natives' Asso> ciatiou, recounting the work it was doing in rospect to wounded soldiers. The secretary was asked to ascertain wliivt demands were being 'made by the Y.M.C.A., and how the money was being spent. It was decided to ask the trustees to transfer the sum of €500. to the imprest account.