PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2777, 23 May 1916, Page 7

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

ITS CONSTITUTION DISCUSSED. A meeting of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Patriotic Society was hold last evening, Mr. E. T. Doddrell presiding. An application from the Women s Branch of the National Eeserve in the matter of obtaining girls, not otherwise occupied, to serve their country in the presont crisis was referred to a sub-com-mitteo to deal with. The proposal is to have these girls assisting mercantile firms, and others, whose staffs may be depleted owing to employees enlisting. The Women's Branch of the National Eeserve anneals to all such women and girls to register their names with a view to taking up, to begin with, clerical work only. Classes will be arranged, and if necessary, free training will be given. Tn answer to a question' the secretary (Mr. J. J. Lewis) said that the girls would be paid for the work done. Discussion took place on the society's constitution, and it was mentioned that a sub-committee had been anpointed to meet a committee from the War Relief Association with a view to amalgamation.

Mr. G. Frost said that it appeared to him that the Wellington Branch of tho New Zealand Patriotic Society was the collecting body and the War Relief Association was the spending body. He was of the opinion, therefore, that the Patriotic Rocietv should not go on collecting money if the.v had no voice in spending it. He said that to his mind tlio society had been "dead slow" in not registering when it had tho chance.

Mr; .T. .T. Lewis held the same opinion ■and said that it was through no fault of his tint registration had not been obtained. He and Mr. Colley had managed to get on the WaT Relief Association as the society's representatives. Insurance premiums for men who have enlisted and who have been passed as medically fit. formed the subject of some discus-sion. At the outset the society undertook to pay the premiums of men who wMi»d to no to tho front, and whn wer" unable to meet the exnenditure. ITn till finite recently' the society had paid out premiums in small amounts but latterly applications have como in in large numbers, especially during the last week or two. A new- factor has been unearthed in regard to the annlieation by n. returned soldier for ■'•'■lief in connection with his premium. The matter had been befor" the War Relief Association, end that body hrd referred it back to the Patriotic. Society. Tt wa» finally resolved to .pernio refer the application to the War Relief Association, nointing out the fact that the man is a relumed soldier. With respect tn the, applications from men who havf- enlisted, a sub-committee was atinointed to go into the question and to arraiice for some definite system in reward to future applications, and also to report on the financial sido of tho ques- | tion.

Lord Rosebery is averse to pink. The sight of a lnily in a pink dress has caused him to lose the thread of his argument in a political speech,