PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2745, 14 April 1916, Page 9

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

MORE LAND SHARES PRESENTED

Mr. T.'M. Wilford, M.P. (chairman), I presided at a mooting of tho Wellington Patriotic Society held last evening. The chairman reported that ho had communicated officially with Mr. S. Bolton, the winner of the Mnractai janiTs raffle, informing him of his Rood lortuno. In his reply, Mr. Bolton said there was no one more surprised than himself on being informed that ho was tho winner. lie thought ho was being made an April Fool of. A letter was received from Mr. Walter Fuller, manager of Uis Majesty's Theatre, offering tho society tlio use' of the theatro, tho services of his company and orchestra, to. do what they liked vvith on tho afternoon of Anzac Day. The chairman said that ho did not see how they could give a vaudeville show on a memorial day, and he moved that Mr. Fuller bo written to, thanking him for his most generous and well-inten-tioned offer. This was seconded by Mr. C. M. Luke and carried.

The secretary presented a financial statement in connection with tho Marnotai art union, showing that the amount collected in connection therewith amounted to £13,073 4s. 3d. Mr. Wilford said that ho bad announced at the drawing that the amount raised was £13,000, so that they wore well within the mark. He did not wish to singlo out anyone for praise in connection with this successful effort, though there wero certain individuals who were entitled to be mentioned, but thoy wero all working for the one end, and tho result was altogether satisfactory; • A sub-committee was sot up "to go into tho accounts in connection with the land raffle.

The chairman, Messrs. Jas. M'lntosh, E. J. Colley, and tho secretary (Mr. J. Lewis) were appointed to confer with Messrs. L. 0. H. Tripp and S. Kirlccaldic in connection with the handing oyer of the money collected by the society through tho medium of' tho Maraetal land raffle. In connection with this matter, Mr. Wilford adduced strong arguments in favour of ono distributing body for all the funds collected in Wellington. He said that so far the War Relief Association had been the distributing body and the Patriotic Society the collecting body, and in regard to the relationship of tho two bodies ho and tho secretary had a heart-to-heart talk with tho Minister of Internal Affairs. The Minister had' informed them that the "War Relief Association had 1 told him that they were not a collecting body, and ho had told tho Minister that thev wero, and had paid oyor £75,000 to the War .Relief Association. That point should bo made quite clear, as only the other day people in Potone had asked him what had becomo of the £8000 they had contributed towards tho £75.000. If people wanted to got money, the War Relief Association was the body to apply to, and if people wanted to give money they (the Patriotic Society) were the 'body 'to receive it.

It was reported that two offers of sets of brass band instruments had been received, one from Auckland (Boosey's) and tho otbor from Wellington (Hawkc's). The Wellington ;ot wero not favoured, but those, offered in Auckland might.he better suited to their requirements.

Mr. C. M. Luke suggested that .Colonel Macintosh should be appointed the judge, and that he should visit Auckland to inspeot the instruments. Mr. Ward wished to know why they wanted a band at all.

The chairman said that thev had big ideas in connection with the society, which was not going to end with the war. Ihey had the idea of continuing en and being the means of inculcating a spirit of patriotism among the peopleand children of New Zealand—real patriotism, as distinct from jingoism. They required a band to turn out when the soldiers arrived or went away, and for any of the functions which they might arrange. It was decided that Colonel Macintosh should inspect the Auckland instruments.

A letter was reeeived from, the Women's Anti-German League asking the society to co-operate witli it in holding a public meeting in Wellington. The letter was received.

Tho secretary reported that tho offer of 500 Maraetai Land Company shares had been made by Mr. A. T. Bate for disposal by the society, with the suggestion that other shareholders might, be approaohed to see if other shares could not be obtained in order to make up a big parcel. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr. Bate thanking him for his generous offer. On the motion of the chairman, a very hearty vote of thanks was given Mr. Co Hey in appreciation of the selfsacrificing work that he Jiad done as treasurer of the art union and society. Tho chairman said he ,felt that he could not allow the work so well perform ed (which was now devolving upon Mr. Cclley) to pass unnoticed without a full meed of. praise for one whose patriotism they all admired, and whose efforts they all so thoroughly appreciated. The motion was carried with .acclamation.