WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3108, 12 June 1917, Page 7

WAR RELIEF

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION MONEY GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS. : A meeting of tho War Belief Association was held yesterday afternoon in tho association's rooms, Lambtoa tjuay. There were present; -Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp (chairman), Hon. J. fJ. W. Aitkan,M.L.C., Messrs. John Hutcheson, Alex. Macintosh, 8; Kirkcaldie, C. A. Ewan, 1.. J. Colley, J. Lewis, G. Shirtcliffe, and C. M. Luke. The report of (he Finance Committee gave a statement of the total funds as at May 81 last, n3 follows--lavestmeuts, ,£77,000; current account. £Ui 15s. lOd.; petty cash in hand, .67 76. 2d.; total, J:77,452 3s. Tho expenditure i for the mouth, of May. amounted to .£IO3O 16s. 2d., and fcho income*to .£519 ds. 7d. It was decided to ask tho trustees to transfer tho Bum of .fiIOOO to the imprest account for .Tnue;'■also that tho withdrawal ,ott .£IOOO Tμ authorised from tho Post Office Savings Bank. The following were added in the list of lifn members:—Messrs. H. B. Keunerlev, William Pryor, C. M. Luke, L. A. Edwards, fi.'H. Wilmot, Vivian Riddiford, Mrs. L. 0. H- Tripp. Twenty annual."members have been added since, tho last meeting. ' . Tho contributions received since last meeting were as follow.—Messrs. George im,,\ Knrsley, .£lO 10s-.: G. H. Hudson. XI; F. Kelling, £% Is.; sundry contributions, .£5 12s. * . ' '

Salvation Army and Y.M.C.A. Appeals, Tho Salvation Army wrote asking the association for a monthly contribution of iilOO to assist them in their war work. The letter stated that Wanganui and *the Wairarapa. had responded to the'request, and they wished io point out that their responsibilues were increasing almost daily. In cases, where funds were eubscribpd for sick and wounded soldiers only, the army would see that the money was only'used in that direction.* ■ :

The Y.M.C.A. also asked for a monthly contribution. . . .

The chairman said that bo far tho association had contributed .£IOOO to the T.JI.C.A. and .£SOO to the- Salvation 'Army, besides a monthly contribution to the army's .institution at Kotorua. [The chairman said ho would like to hear the opinions of the meeting as to giving, these grants .to institutions. One gentleman, who was not a member of the executive, had asked him to express the view that as tho money was- being so freely disbursed, it might not bo wise to send any further monoj- out of the country. ' Mr. C. M. Luke was of opinion that, in view of the fact that they had already expended .£II,OOO, and that the money was not coming in so freely as anticipated, 'they should seriously consider whether they Ehould send any further money out of New Zealand.

Mr. <T. Lewis held that the money was subscribed for the boys w*ho were fighting their battles, and the money should not bo withheld from tho men if it made ■their lot a little brighter. Ho reminded tho meeting that the soldiers themselves were subscribers to the fund, Ho held no brief for the Y.M.C.A. or tho Salvation Army, but he know they were doing good work, and tho money in hand shonld be judiciously expended. If moro money wero needed it would be the work of tho Government or the Patriotic vSoeiety to provide it. • ' , At this stage ; the discussion was adjourned until Inter in the meeting. First Month in Camp. r The hardship imposed upon necessitous married soldiors during the first month they .are in camp was brought up by tho chairman, who stated that no wages wero ]wid until a man had been in. camp for a month, and during that timo thero were certain tilings the men had to provide out of their own pockets, apart altogether from their being unable to make any allowance for their wives and families during that month. Mr. ,T. Hutcheson doubled whether such a matter .came' within tho scopo of tho association's duties, as the money they had was for sick and wounded soldiers. , Mr. Aitken: And necessitous soldiers. Mr. S. Kirkcaldio thought it was a matter .for tho Financial Assistance Board. There was no reason why the board should not advance the men their first month's salary, the Banio to bo Prepaid at tho end of tho month. Mr. Hutcheson was of tho opinion that Mo Government should givo tho nion a month's salary as a. ljomis. Mr. Shirtcliffp held that tho matter came well within the scopo of tho assonialionV duties, as it dealt with necessitous soldiers. Mr. Hirtehoson'fl fioir was that tho money soldiers had to expend during tho first month' was for equipment, and it should l)e known that, if such help was I given, it was. being given for tho equipment of th'o men, which was really the Government's dutyl

On the motion of tho Hon. if, G. )V. Aitken, it was decided to afford assistance in - necessitous cases/for a period of 'l.wo months. By tho end of thai; time they would know where they stood in this matter.

In view of-the .proposal to raiso- funds to supplement thoso of the association, tho chairman proposed that a sub-com-mittee, consisting of! Messrs.- G. Shirtcllffe, A. Macintosh,/S. ICirkcaldie, and himself be eet up to consult with tho committee of- the Patriotic Society as to

tho steps to bo iiken for raising Iho money required. Caution Ufflctl. Mr. C. M. Luko naid that, much dnliended on tho manner in which the association's funds were supplemented, but*, »a ho had already pointed out, they wero Rutting into their capital account at tho rate of -EGOOO a year, and they should conserve their money in hand as well, as they wero able to assist those cases which 'came immediately uudor their euro and protection. Mr. Hutcheson made a. strong appeal for the work that ivas- being donn by the Y.M.C.A. and Iho Salvation Army right up to the danger lino, and hoped that it was not going to "be a caso of out of sight out of mind. They should do what they could to givn tho men thosecomforts they so thoroughly deserved. It was a work that someono would do in any case, but it should not be known Siat they wero not doing their bit for the boys who were in the fighting line. The sub-committee proposed by thfl chairman was elected. Monthly Grants to bo Made. In regard k> the applications by the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army for monthly grants Mr. Shirtcliffe suggested *50 per month be grafted for three months. ■ Mr. Hutcheson suggested that, as the Y.M.C.A. had been given .SIOOO and tho army only JSOO, tho latter tody should bo given .£SOO in order to put both institutions on a level. . . Mr. Kirkcaldie said, that lie would be pleased to second Mr. Sbirtcliffe's motion, if ho would make tho grant per month. He had always (found tho army very moderate in its demands. Mr Hutcheson withdrew his suggestion regarding tho £500 grant to the 'W , Shirtcliffe then moved that JUOO per month for three months be granted to both institutions. This was earned unanimously. . ... ■. On* the 'motion of 51 r. J. Lewis it was decided to' congratulate tho Mayor (Sir. J. P. Luke) on tho honour recently conferred upon him. . *• , Before the meeting closed Mr. Luke said he hoped that his remarks would ■not bo construed into-being in any way derogatory to tho institutions mentioned.. lie was a member of tho National Council of the Y.M.C.A., andknow what mngnificent work was being done by both the association and. the army, the value of. which was evident from the stream of letters received almost daily.from the soldiers. ■ .