Patriotic Society,

Levin Daily Chronicle, 8 October 1918, Page 3

Patriotic Society,

The report on the operations of till© ' Levin and District Patriotic Society, I read by tih'e hon. secretary, Mi- C. S. | Keedwell, at the patriotic gathering last week was as follows: I After the patriotic effort, carried I out in Levin in connection witli the - Queen Carnival in the middle of 19116, hiad been brought to a successful conclusion by "the raising of a considerable sum of money, it was felt by those Who had taken an active part in this effort that it was necessary for Levin to have a properly constituted! Patriotic Society. With this object in view a public meeting was called at the Borough Council Chambers, at ivibiich some twenty five ladies and gentlemen were present. 'Mr B. R. Gardener, the Mayor of Levin, at that time, presided and the present existing officers were theire elected to carry out the necessary functions and business pertaining to sticli a sooiety. Since those day): the work and scope,of tJhto operations has steadily increased, whilse "many regulations governing the conduct of Patriotic Societies have been placed on the Statute Book, till now the work has to be carried out on certain defined lines laid down by the responsible State Department. The interchange of correspondence between Societies atea provides considerable work, as soldiers do not always return to tlbe centre from whore they enlisted, and shouldi assistance be required it is now generally recognised that this should oorne from the centre at which tte soldier ra-icled prior to enlistment, and this course often entails a very large amount of corpondence.

The Committee hare met on 27 occaand on no occasion has a meeting lapsed owing to lack of a, quorum. The quarterly returns of the Wooiety's financial operations have been regularly supplied to- the Department of Internal Affairs, and a yearly audit lias been carried out by the Department's auditor. The Hon. Treasurer, Mr Goldsmith, has on more tlhlan one ocasion been complimented by the officials on the clear and explicit manner in which the various accounts o'f the Society have been kept.

[Early in 1916 steps were taken by this Society to arrange for tihie representation of this district on the executive of the Wellington War Relief Association, and a conference was called at Levin in February, 1916, at which most of the Patriotic Societies' in the County were represented. The appointments of the late Mr N. Itiriccalcde and Mr W. J. Hbivell were approved and subsequently accepted by the ExecuI fives of the Wellington War (Relief Association, 'but as this Executive has always pliovn a very liberal spirit in meeting any calls from this district it has never been necessary to avail ourselves of these gentlemen's services to present our claims. It was from a suggestion made at this conference that tlhie formation of our own County Patriotic En nd was brought about, after some strenuous work had been carried out by the subcommittee appointed for the purpose,' Messrs Blenikhom, Gardener, Goldsmith and Keedwell who visited) the main centres of tihe County, and explained to the existing Patriotic Societies the aims and constitution of the proposed County Patriotic Association. .Ln March, 1917, the proposed rules and regulations of this Association and its incorporation were approved by the - Minister in Charge of the Department, of Internal Affairs, and to the Levin Patriotic Society belongs the, credit of the formation and establishment on sound; lines, of the County Patriotic Fund.

In January, 191(3, Mr Gardener vacated the office of .Chairman of 'thif. Society owing to his having resigned from the Mayoral position, and Mr Blerikhorn tihen toot up the Chairmanship. As the Committee felt that it could not afford to lose Mr Gardener's services he was appointed vice-presi-dent of the (Society. In November 1917, Mrs A. W. Ri-ch-ter, who had been a keen and- active worker of the Committee, resigned as yhe was leaving Levin and; it was decided that Mrs W. H. Plaster should bo. invited to fill the vacancy which she had clone.

The splendid work which Ihlas been accomplished by the Ladies' Red Cross Committee and their many enthusiastic workers ds a matter for special mention, and -working in co-opera, tion with the Patriotic 'Society they iliave proved! an invaluable assistance in .maintaining the funds of the Society. The loyal and consistent maimer in which they have carried on for the past four years is. something to be proud of for without tllnese ladies the Patriotic Society would not have achieved much. The Red Gross shop lias been remarkably successful as a medium for money-raising and by using the Shop Days to meet the numerous appeals on belhialf of the many war organisations requiring assistanoe, it lhas been possible to avoid making frequent canvasses of the public for funds, and no appeal for a Worthy cause has been passed over. Just how much money lias been actually raised though the Shop is somewhat difficult to estimate as on some occasions the Shop Days have been supplemented by an outside canvass but it is probably an underestimate to place the amount at £'1700. The Cardigan Jacket Fund is also maintained bv the f• adie.Red Cross Committee .and many hundireds of these u'-eful gifts have been presented to men leaving for Camp by the Hon. Secretary. Mrs Goldsmith. In this connection 'the ladies have expanded no less than £183 165.. A further, branch of their activity is tlhe making up of hospital garments—bandages, dressings, and undergarments, constant supplies of which ibave been despatched to the Wellington Depot during the past tlhiree or four years. In addition this committee has provided, a regular supply of 120 hold-alls and 100 hom-eu ives every month and only those who have undertaken the making up of these goods which are part of w. cry soldier's issue of equipment can realise what .a strain it has been for the Committee to maintain the supply.

The sum actually expended in monetary assistance to soldiers or their dependents does nut figure as _ a very large amount in the expenditure of the Society, but it must not bo forgotten .that the Wellington War Relief Association has also assisted in this direction various applicants whose positions have been brought to the notice of that executive either by direct ap-

irnt'.m. or through the local committee ; and also the number of sick or wounded' men who have returned to tlu- district has beem comparatively small so far. Owing to the smallness of our funds it has never been per-•nis-saV » to follow the practice adopted in some districts of making every man a monetary grant. (usually £5) on his return whether be requires it or not. This proceeding Iras been generally discontinued now as being of no real benefit to the man concerned and it was also regarded by the men themselves as unnecessary. The very small sum which covers the actual working expenses of the Society | for nearly three years of existence, ' £28, embracing as it does advertising, stationery, sundries, etc., is a matter which the Committee feel is worthy of notice as it- represents less than 1 per cent of the moneys handled by the Committee. In this connection thanks •ire due to our bankers, the Bank of New Zealand, for the'courtesy in waiviii££ exchange on. cheques and dirafts and also keeping t)he Bank account free 'of charge. " The Postal Department has also afforded a concession of considerable value—that of I'iee postage on corespoiulcnw, no small item in* reducing working expenses'. Our l advertising" also Inns boon considerably i reduced by the 50 per cent reduction allowed us at flw "Chronicle" office for which lihe Societv is ex I romely grateful. In conclusion the Committee- would like to add that whilst, at all times welcoming fair and just crii irism ,iitd helpful suggestions, they keenly xescut. tin? unju-«t insinuations such as are at odd times carried back to the members

of tllite Executive. Apparently there are a few in the community who cannot understand why there should he some whoare willing to give their time and services to gratuitous work -of' this pa. I Li'.iotio nature. Xot one of the officers ' >r committee have ever received one ' cent of monetary benefit from t/hkir I connection with this patriotic work since this Society was formed!, iind the R.KCentive can cfaim nothing Imt a]«- j ford of unselfish enthusiasm in the in- ; ierests- of. our figJhting men and tlieir j dependents. 1 Tt now.rests with the. public to say whether they consider the past record of the present committee, meets with their nprovaJ and if they wMi them to continue their work.