WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3002, 13 February 1917, Page 7

WAR RELIEF

THE ASSOCIATION MEETS ML LO.H. TRIPP APPOINTED ' CHAIRMAN SSOB FOR SALVATION ARMY. Messrs. L. O. H. Tripp (acting-chair-ftnan), A. Macintosh, Jas. M'lntosb, E. 'J. Colley, J. Lewis, J. Hutcheson, C. 'A. Ewen, A.;R. Atkinson, Geo. Shirti cliffe, S. Kirkcaldie, <a»d the Hon.' 3'. <G. W. Aitjten, M.L.C., were present at the first meeting of the year of tho executive of the War Relief Association lold yesterday afternoon at tho association's rooms A SALVATION" ARMY APPEAL. ; The first business taken was the application for a grant of £500 for war relief work by the Salvation Army. Ensign Hoskins appeared in support of the appeal, and said, initially, that perhaps tho war work of tho Army was nob so -well advertised as it might have Jbecn. The testimony, of returned men from tho front was perhaps tho Army's ibest advertisement. In giving details ■of what the Army was :doing, Ensign Hoskins said tliat- tli* Army had 100,000 motor ambulances working behind tho lines in France (working within the Red Cross'organisation), which, were manned by Salvation Army members. There were also 600 Salvation !Army officers cagaged with ..the troops ju Franco. The Army also had over two hundred hutments on all:fronts, which'dispensed comforts to the troops in. the way of hot meals and.drinks, .Tvhich were being- attended to by people without pay. ; In- England thoy were cloing similar .wort, and all the hospitals were regularly visited - by- thoir people.. Quito .recently they had been asked to fake: over a largo hostel in ■Russell Sauaro with" 250 .beds, which •was for New Zealand soldiers. All those present knew of the institution Tor soldiers at Rotorua. In;connec- i 'tion with that home thev had .recently purchased a motor-launch at a cost of £300 for trips oh the lake, as a mrans of restoring the health .'and .strength of their nationts. -Their w.ork, too, at the military <jainps was well.. known. !Apart from theso activities, tho ftrniy was spending-in this citv at the rate of £8 a week on hospital cases. Only .yesterday the Commissioner had been cabled, asking '. the Army if it would provide a. hut for Salisbury Plains ;at a. cost of £1000.. . which resnmisibility the Comiriisionor had: readily undertaken.: The Army had not received any.large amount? .in contributions, and would-be grateful if the association - would help them to a greater extent than they hitherto- had done. . TCnsign 'ETnskins stated that ■ Wangnnui had rriven them' £600, Nanicr and Palmerston North £300. Tliev.nsked the association for a. grant of £500.

Mr. Lewis: "Did I understand vou to say that your peopl" were working in Franco without pav?'.' . ,Rnsign Hoskins: "There aro many, who were working behind tho line, and .right up' to within-the-firing-lino, and also,in the hospitals, wlm arc receiving no pay whatsoever. Tho Army chaplains receive military 'pay: which t.hoy pool into tho general fund, only drawing- officer's salary for themselves. ' • •••.."'..•'

. When EWin Hoskins • had withdrawn. Mr. John Hutehcson said that there may have been those who were Kcepfienl about the work of tho Y.M.C.A. before the war.Who had no doubt now about the good and efficient work that body. waS .doing! but for skill and organisation, and ..ability to administer any funds the' Salvation Army was a wonderful body,, and bo thoucht that tbev should he plared on nil fours with tho Y.M.C.A. (which bad received £10(10 from the associatinnV. The Armv was indefatigable. Mr. J. .Lowis said that if Mr. TJutihcson would move, that the Army get - £1000,' he would second it.

Mr. C. X Ewen said that lid thought thcv oiinht to keep to the the request. The olinirmaii said that the-associa-tion had voted the Array £50, and was paying £10 a month towards its home in TJotorua. * ' Mr. Hntehcson reverted'to his point that the Armv should he placed oh all fours with the Y.M.C A. "I would bet my life,'-' he said', "that you will ftet the full .'benefit, with ho leakages or losses." .• -. . ... Mr. A. H. Atkinson said they should vote the £500, but there was no rea-

son to stop there should the occasion arise. Mr. Kirkcaldio pointed out thattl-oro : wero other associations tho Army could apply to as well as the Wellington ono. It was then moved and 'seconded that tho sum of £500 he granted to tho Salvation Army, tho samo to ho dovotcd to tho care and! comfort of sick and wounded soldiers. | .. S.A. Home at Rotorua. -. An application was received, from tie Chief Secretary of the Army, asking tho association to double tho monthly ■ grant (£10) to tho Salvation Army's Soldiers' Home at Rotorua, wheih had recently been doubled in size and capacity. On tho suggestion of tho chairman it was decided to refer the request- to tho Advisory Board, vhich is to. meet next week. . Auckland's "Reticence." It-was decided to heartily endorse and,submit to tho Advisory Board tho resolution forwarded by tho Canterbury Patriotic Fund, as per letter January 12: "That the Advisory Board be requested to urge the Auckland Society to conform with the general pi inciplo adopted of assisting those- applicants domiciled in the Auckland province prior to enlistment." . The chairman explained that Auckland had a local and a district fund, and! that according to the constitution of those funds it could not assist cases in.Wellington and elsewhere, though such cases were Auckland capes. Second Lieutenant's Pay.

The chairman reported that a letter had been-forwarded to the Minister pointing out the desirability of removing the anomaly which existed between the pay_ of a regimental sergeant-major in receipt of children's allowance and the pay of a second lieutenant. Tho Minister of Defence, in reply, intimated that it has been decided to make the pay .of a second lieutenant equal to that of a first lieutenant, thereby removing the anomaly.

In view of the nature of the Minister's reply, it was decided not to bring the matter before the Advisory Board. Finanoe. ■ Hie Finance Committee' reported that tho imprest account (balance at bank) amounted, to £106 13s. 10d., and the I War -Fund Account to £123 6s. 9d. I The list of investments amounted to £78,500, The statement of total funds as at January. 31 was as follows:—lnvestments, £78,500; current accounts, .£230 os. ..73.;'petty cash in hand, £6 17s. 2d. Accounts amounting to £87 165.. 9d. It was decided to ask. that tho trustees transfer £1000 to the'.imprest account for February, and also to transfer the sum of £500 from tho Post Office Savings Bank (when required). Eleotion of Chairman. Mr. L. O. H. Tripp was elected chairman of the Executive Committee, vice Mr. William Forguson resigned. Mr. C. M-. Luke was elected vice-chairman, and Mr. Thomas Wilson (a life member) was elected a member of the executive vice Mr. Forguson. _ - ■ ■ i ■ An application was received from the Wellington division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade for the continuanco of the monthly grant of £10. This was agreed to. The following contributions had.been received since the last meeting:—J. W. A. Marchant, £1 Is.; C. W. Smith, £1; Clement Watson, £1. Life members elected since last meeting are the Hon. W. : H. Herr'ies and Mr.- A. H. Barnett.