PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 218, 14 August 1937, Page 11

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING

POOLING OPPOSED,

Opposition to any proposals to pool the funds of the Manawatu Patriotic Society with those of otlier similar organisations throughout New Zealand was voiced at the annual meeting held last evening, when the Mayor (Mr A. Manst'ord) presided, it being considered that, liaving carefully conserved its funds over a long period of years, it was entitled to continue the future administration itself.

Moving the adoption of the report (already published), the chairman expressed gratification that, in common with others, returned soldiers were enjoying the benefit of improved general conditions, and there were many fewer cases of distress. He commented that the healthy state of the Anzac fund, in. which there was an accumulated amount of £14,900, and the sickness fund, in which there was a total of £17,700, was in itself a tribute to the foresight of those who had been responsible for the establishment and early administration of these. The chairman said he was under a dqbt of gratitude to Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the Palmerston North branch of the R.S.A., for his assistance to lum and the society. . . f By the manner in which it had con-, served its funds and carried out its duties, stated Mr J. A. Nash, in seconding tho motion, tlio society was in as strong a position as any other similar organisation in New Zealand. Though many years bad elapsed since the Groat War, the funds were available for the society to carry out extensive activities if lor any reason of emergency there should be heavy calls upon its financial resources in the .future. A resolution was passed, on the motion of Mr Jacobs, expressing strenuous oppositiou to any proposals, appearing to emanate from the Minister of Internal Affairs, to amalgamate the funds of tho various Patriotic Societies in New Zealand under a central administration constituted in Wellington. Mr Jacobs expressed the thanks of the Returned Soldiers’ Association for the continued co-operation and assistance of tho society in the administration of the funds. No society in New Zealand bad a record that even nearly compared with that of the Manawatu bodv, which owed a debt of gratitude to Mr Nash for his work in the collection of the funds and their subsequent administration. Equally valued service had been given by successive Mayors. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Nash, to offer the society’s congratulations to the Palmerston North branch of the R.S.A. on the completion of a successful year. Officers tor the ensuing year were elected as follow: —Chairman, the Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford); actingchairman, Mr B. J. Jacobs; auditor, Mr R. Davis; lion, treasurer, Mr J. Blackwood; executive, Messrs Mansford, Jacobs. J. A. Nash, A. J. Graham. F. J. Nathan, N. Blackmore, J. H. Stevens, T. R. Hodder, J. LmKlater, C. Louisson, 0. Monrad, H. N. Cooke T. E. French, J. Blackwood, D. Collis,’ J. W. Rutherford, W. G. Rutherford and J. Permain. Appreciation was voiced of Mr Blackwood’s services to the .society, and it was decided to forward him a letter of thanks.