WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 183, 23 April 1918, Page 8

WAR RELIEF

MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION AN INTERESTING MONEY VOTE IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL? The monthly meeting of tho Wellington War Relief Association was held yesterday afternoon. There were present: Messrs. L. 0. H. Tripp (chairman), C. M. Luke, A. Macintosh, A. K. Atkinson, S. Kirkcaldie, ,F; Hutcheson, J. Lewis, ,T. M'lnlosh, C. A. Ewan, Colonel ,f. G. Hughes, and the Hon. ,T. G. W. Aitken. At the previous meeting of the War Relief Association it was decided, on the casting vote of the chairman, to contribute the sum of ,£l7.i to the funds of tho New Zealand War Contingent Association in London for the benefit of men other than sick or wounded. At yesterday's meeting of tho association the subject was further pursued by Mr. John Hutclieson moving as follows:— "That Mr. Shirtcliffe's motion, voting ,£175 to the funds of the New Zealand War Contingent,-Association. London, for the benefit of men other than sick and wounded, be rescinded, _on the grounds that such grant is outside the spirit, if not letter, of our constitution, and in the fnco of other possible analogous requests inconsistent with the present stale of our funds." ;

Mr. Hutcheson said he brought forward (lie matter with some reluctance. It seemed to him that the action, the association had decided on was outside tho spirit of the objects of the association, particularly in view of the responsibilities of tho association and the state of its finances. He pointed out that there were all sorts of organisations to attend to the social welfare of the soldiers in London. It was very doubtful if tho matter camo within the scope of tho institution.

Tho chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) explained that tho matter had originated with the Advisory BdJlrd, which had been asked to find ,£3OOO for the War Contingent Association in London. Wellington's share had been fixed at iElTfl. The object of the War Contingent Association was to provide social (liversion for well men in London, in order to keep tho men away from temptation. He had obtained a legal opinion from Mr. C. P. Skerrett, which was to the effect that the association had power to subscribe to the War Contingent Association.

'In the ensuing discussion members expressed doubts as to how far the legal opinion went, and it was suggested that further details should bo obtained from Mr. - Skerrett.

Mr. A. B. Atkinson did not think that even'in view of the legal opinion the,7 should lay themselves open to establishing a. precedent. Jf they had power to subscribe to this particular body, they must have equal power to donato money to other bodies. He suggested that the money should be raised independently ot the association. Mr. 8. l\irkoaldin suggested that Messrs. Tripp and Atkinson and Colonel .T, (!. Hughes bo appointed a. committee In raise the amount, required, but the idea was not pressed. l \ Mr. A. Macintosh said that there was nothing in which the men in camp were instructed more particularly lluui in the prevention of this disease, and in view 01 that, he did not think they should be called upan to contribute money for the purpose suggested. Tf in the ,faco of that special instruction the men gavo way to temptation then they would have to suffer for it. Mr. Hiitchpson: Thai: would be all right if they kept it to themselves. On being puL to Iho meeting, Mr. Hulcheson's motion was lost by 6 votes to 5. Soldiers' Wives' Club. In response to a letter received fronv Mrs. Porter, requesting the association to guarantee the rent of the club room ("Charley's Aunt" Club) used by the Soldiers' Wives' Club, it was deHded to guarantee the rent for six months. Sir. Htitcheson explained that the club was really a. working bee engaged in the making of clothes for soldiers' wives and children. A Regimental Funds. The association received a letter from the Wanganui Association covering a request from the Wellington Battalion Headquarters for assistance to the battalion fupds. Tlio amount asked for was ,£750 every quarter, which would- keep the whole regiment in funds. It was explained that each company was allowed £2 a. week, or about i'lo per calendar month, and for five companies, i!SO. On top of that there was ,£3O expenditure for the benefit of the whole battalion, or,ißo per month per battalion (of which there were three). The chairman felt inclined to do something, to-help t.hese regimental funds (which were really spent on extra food and fresh vegetables, and had a heartening effect on the men), but to do that the constitution of the association would need to be altered. After a discussion of a sympathetic character, it was decided that the matter was altogether outside the constitution of the association, but so that the'matter would not be dropped it was decided to refer the' appeal to the Lady Liverpool Fund Committee, with the rwjuest that they, in association with officers' wives, should take the matter up. If they consented to do so the association would do all it could to assist them.,' Finance.

The financial statement showed that the expenditure for March had amounted to «£648 6s. 6d., and the incomc to >£526 19s. sd. The current account showed the sum of jCflGl jg s . Ud„ with cash in hand. The. list of invesiments totalled <£74,765 16s. lOil. Relief Committee's Rejiort. The Relief Committee reported as follows:—"The committee met on six occasions 6ince last meeting of the executive, and dealt with 242 applications. In the earlier part of the year there was a reduction in tlie number of applications received, but claims are now being lodged at an average of 80 per week. The number of applications concerning other kindred bodies is steadily increasing, as instanced by the fact that out'of a net expenditure of <£1250 for the three months ended March 31, 1918, i.e., exclusive of administration expenses, no less than >£700 has been refunded ,by other societies. I he committee proved successful in representing to the Defence Department the desirability 'that the New Zealand Government should pay, to the dependants domiciled in New Zealand of reservists called up. for serving under proclamation of war, tho difference betiven Imperial and New Zealand rates of pay, and this has been given effect to as from January 1 1918. Representations were made to tho Hon. Minister of Defence, per medium of the Advisory Board, pointing out that we consider the period of six months subsequent to discharge to bo an inadequate term of liability 0 f the Defence Department for tho burial penses of returned deceased soldiers. The Government has now increased tho period from six to fwelve months subsequent to discharge." Tho report was adopted. '