"A SOLEMN DUTY."

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2895, 6 October 1916, Page 6

"A SOLEMN DUTY."

WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION APPEAL FOR MEMBERS At the meeting of the Executive Committee of the War Relief Association yesterday, the chairman (Mr. William t'erguson) said that it was the general opinion of those interested that a further appeal should be made tc the public, soliciting them to become members of .the association, and to that and a circular 'otter had been drn>v.i up which, he would read. The circular letterwas as follows:—. . "Two circulars invo already been issued by the War Relief Association with a certain amount/ of success, but the committee has decided on making another appeal for moinbiirsliip. Tito very arge casualty published of late should make every, citizen, as well as the members of the War Relief Association, feel what a solemn duty lies betoro us in the future, to do our very best forthe men and tlieir dependants « u ■ ° suffered iu this terrible war, tenting for u s and the Empire, and this will need much more money than the association possesses at present. An increase of funds is, of course, one consideration—and a very important one—but it is equally important that tho public'should be interested in. and in touch with, the relief work that IS ,m ng dolle by " tne association. Up-to-date 1375 applications have been tiealt with, many of them sadly urgent and pitiable in the extreme. "Besides granting relief, a great deal ot help is given by the association in getting compulsory allotments made by soldiers in camp when necessary, in seeing that men make sufficient allotment to their wives before leaving New Zealand, in advising with regard to pensions, and in many ways acting friend to those in need. "The committee asks you to show your sympathy with the association, by becoming a member—either a life 01 annual—and thus taking the share everyone ought to take in a great work which will be an ever-increasing one while the war goes on, and for a.long timo after the honourable peace which we are all praying for has been declared."

Mr. B. J. Colle'y asked how many members belonged to the association at present, and was informed that there were 98 in all, including 45 life members (the qualification for . which was a donation of £5 55.. to the funds). Continuing, he said that whilst many people wcro no doubt sympathetic in regard to tho work of tho association, it did not seem to him that they were inclined to dip' into their pockets to augment^tho funds.- After referring to tho Patriotic Society's intention of taking action to raise funds, ho questioned if the appeal by letter would bring about tho desired result. Was there no other method of augmenting their membership? The public had been appealed to before in this manner, and tho result was a total membership of 98. • Tho chairman: "Including tho original members." Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp said that really the best way was for some of the members of tbo committee to go round. He found that if they wanted £5, £10, or £100 it was easy to get it, but people did not wish to be bothered about becoming a member. Tho chairman said that the position was that they had a large fund to administer, and they wished the publio to come in and take an interest in t'he distribution ,of the money. It should not be a hole-and-corner business. ■' ■ Mr. Lewis wished to know how members could assist in the disbursement of moneysTho chairman said they would have ft voice'in returning members to the executive at tho annual meeting. Mr. Lewis raised the point as to qualification for membership by subscription, and asked why those who were lenown to have subscribed over and abovo a certain amount at the last carnival should not Jjo entitled to membersbip.

The chairman: "We have our rules, improved' by tho Miniater, to go by. Wo cannot go outside them." .Mr. E. J. Colley ashed what tho position of the Savago Club was. The chairmau: "That was purely a donation." Mr. Lewis thought that those who were known to ha7o subscribed £5 ss. or over to the funds in the past should be entitled to 1 membership. Mr. Colley said that tho paucity of tho response in members in the past showed callousness on the part of the public to tho work that was beinjz done by the association, and he could not eco how they could largely supplement their membership by following tho proposal. If it were done ho advocated sending out 20.000 circulars with the object of fretting 5000 members. ■

On the motion of Mr. M'Larenit was decided to issue the circular letter. Its issue was left in the hnnds of Messrs. M'Laren, Lewis, and A. Macintosh.