"TO DO THEIR BIT"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2791, 8 June 1916, Page 3

"TO DO THEIR BIT"

HATAITAI 1 RESIDENT'S ENTHUSIASTIO. '

In his opening remarks -at a nicctiu" held under tha auspices of the'Hataitait jNorth;. lullirnie Defence Rifle ami National Service Club on Tuesday, Mr. 11. Amos, chairman, ( said that the residents in the district who were unable tci no to the ; war had decided to "do their bit" for ■ the Empire.' by the ■ formation of the club. The meeting was an enthusiastic one, and the attendance numbered 75. , Mr. H. W. Tolan, who had leen appointed canvasser-in-chief, reported that since the formation of the club 350 houses in the district had been visited so far, illid as' a result 75 active members had been secured, and also' 70 members under the national service section.

Mr. A. D. Bayfield explained the rules of a Defenco Bille Club, and slated 'that arrangements would probably be-made for the use of one of the riile. ranges belonging to another club. The Defence Department had assured the acting committee tliat upon proper application being made the club .would bo recognised; Mr. A. Leigh Hunt urged the residents of the district to realise the importance of doing more to assist the Umpire in this great crisis, and thoreby sot nil oxample to the whole country. It was the proposal of the club (1) to assist .the' Government iii any way to stimulate recruiting; (2) to offer its services in. taking the census; (3) to offer its services to reijevo the guards at the forts, and also to assist in guarding the interned prisoners on Somes Island; (i) to compile a roll of all members of the district who have enlisted as members of the Expeditionary 'Forces, and to keep it up to ilato so as to bo iu a position to do something to provide for their .dependants if necessary; . (5) to assist by keeping up tlio guldens ul' the homes of- men who have gone to tho' front; (G) to assist men who havo been called up and who have not had'timo to fix their business and family affairs before leaving; (7) to offer the services of the club to the Defence authorities, and the various societies controlled by the Mayor and Mayoress of Wellington nnd tho Red Cross Society. Continuing, Mr. Hunt said that it was 'the intention of the club to assist in looking after the leturned soldiers in the matter of pensions and allowances. Tho club would also co-oper-ate with any other society to prevent the exploitation of food stuffs and tho necessities of life. It was also the intention to prevent the increase-in shipping freights if possible, and also to stimulate a track in British goods. In conclusion, Mr. Hunt said that a district fund would be constituted so that ail contributions from tho district would be paid into s. common fund and paid out to the various bodies afterwards. Arrangements would be made to have a. systematic collection of funds made from tho people of the district on the lines of tho Southland Patriotic Committee. As there were 800 houses ,in the district, surely it would be possible to provide at least JMSO per month for patriotic purposes. Mr. Amos moved: "That the HataitaiNorth Kilbirnie Defence Ri/le and National Service Club be formed and that the annual subscription be 2s. fid." The motion was carried unanimously.

; Tlio election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Dr. Newman, M .I } .; president, Mr. A. D. Bayiielil; vicepresident, Mr. H. Amos; lion, secretary, Mr. H. W. Tolan; lion, assistant secretary, Mr. A. W. 0. Travel's; lion, treasurer, Mr. J. C. Burbury; lion, auditor, Mr. H. C. Edwards; executive, Messrs. A. Leigh Hunt, H. Rogers, C. 0. Jorgensen, W. G. Gaiitlin, C. E. Bennett, C. Bell, and H. Shepherd. Military training and national service committees were also appointed.