HOROWHENUA COUNTY PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 5 September 1919, Page 4

HOROWHENUA COUNTY PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the above was held at the Council Chambers, Levin, on Wednesday afternoon last, when there were present: Messrs P. W Goldsmith' (chairman), F. P. WalkIcy (secretary), C. S. Keedwell, B. R. Gardener (Levin), Mcsdames T. Gib.on and Hallam (Shannon), G. Kilsby (Koputaroa), C. Nees (Manakau), L. St George and Frank Penn (Otaki), G P Catley (Te Horo), W. J. HoweU (ParaparaumU), and A. Mackay (Paekakariki). Apologies were received from Messrs J. H. Andrew, Tatton Frascr, 3. McLeavey, T. Vincent, B. Maclean, J. S. Smith and W. Murdoch for.jion-attendanco.

Letters were received from two relurned men, heartily thanking the Association for assistance received. Assistance Sought. A very largo number of .applications for assistance for returned soldiers were received and dealt with. The application of an Otaki returned soldier for continued assistance was granted, to the extent of goods to value of £1 per week for thirteen weeks. An application was received from the Auckland Association, for grant of £lO to assist an ex-Shannon man who had been set up in the motor business in Auckland. The committee's action in granting the request was approved. The meeting considered at length the application of a Packakariki man for £2O to assist in purchase of a house. It was pointed out, the Association had already "assisted this man, who had also received a Government loan, and the meeting resolved to grant him £lO, largely on account of the illness of his It'was decided to refund £2 to the Manawatu Patriotic Society, which had advanced that amount to assist the mother of two Otaki soldiers. Letters were received from the Auckland and Wellington War Belief Associations, authorising the local body to expend sums of £l2 10s and £5 respectively to assist soldiers from these dis-

tricts. - Two applications from the Manawatu Society lor relief were held over, pending result of enquiries as to the district in which the men hailed from. It was reported that tho committee l„ lt l authorised the kelson Association to expend £lO in assisting a Koputaroa l;! ,se, tliis being an urgent matter.— Action endorsed. Similar action of the committee in authorising Wellington War Belief Association to expend £5 was also ap-

proved. Light applications for assistance for Shannon men—the majority of which cases had been referred to the Shannon Society for a report—occupied consi.lernble time. The Shannon Society recommended all the cases for favourable consideration, and the meeting decided to grant two men £1 a week for 13 weeks, while clothing allowances of £T, each were granted to two others.

Two other Shannon applications were held over, pending the receipt of a report of the Shannon delegates, while vet another application was held over for tt month, this being considered a case for the Kepatriation Board. Au offer of assistance to a Horowhemia man. now residing in "the Hawke's Bay district, came to hand from the Hawke's Bay Association. After discussion, the meeting decided to otter to assist the man to the extent of £SO if the Hawke'.s Bay Association "ranted £IOO. It was understood that u loan of £l5O already granted to lhi« soldier by Horowhenua would not be required if the grants suggested above were made. "j Donations Keceived. Paraparaumu Patriotic Society forwarded a cheque for £IOO for the Asso•»«'s funds, Manakau sent £ll 13s ciatiu- -neace celebrations com(surplus from r ■• - -c« Id, this : mitteo). and Waikanac £2 x\*. ' -- I being the balance of that Society's •funds. Unsolicited Help. The meeting decided to grant £1 weekly for 13 weeks to assist a returned man' in the Paraparaumu district. It was stated that this man, though badly wounded and able to do very little work, refused to apply for assistance, thoucrh pressed to do so on several occasions? Several members of the meeting said this was a most deserving case, and one that should be assisted. A Manakau Case. The case of a Manakau returned soldier, who was assisted recently by the Association, again came before the meeting. Mr C. Nees said this man was in hospital, and likely to be away for some considerable time. The Manakau Patriotic Society had authorised | ploughing to be done, which would cost I £l6, and he suggested the Association pay this, though the Man?.l:au Society would pay if the Association refused i the liability. j

It was pointed out that this was an extraordinary' ease. The soldier had seen lengthy service, and had been very badly wounded, yet he received a paltry pension of 10s per week. Several members thought that strong representations should be made to the Pensions Department, to get the pension increased, and it was stated that the matter was already being taken up bv the Fv.S.A.

The meeting resolved to undertake liability for the work authorised by the Manakau Society. Treasurer's Statement.

The treasurer's statement showed the receipts since last meeting to total £124 16s 3d, making the credit- bank balance £270 Is Td. The assets totalled approximately £6OOO. Disposal of rnnds. Mr Goldsmith moved the notice of motion standing in his name:—"That beyomi the amount already autftotisea XSSaO), aa fer&ss jass&iasafeSfi ffltfk

which involve tying up the funds ror a period of more than two years." Mr Goldsmith said the Association had decided, in December last, to set aside

a sum of £3OOO as reserve for meeting any claims for assistance of needy soldiers and their dependents, and it had also been decided that from that date half the amounts received by tho Association be devoted to the same purpose. The chairman'pointed out that already the Association had loaned some £I6OO to soldiers, while another £250 had been promised for loans. These would extend over a period of ton years. Seeing that their total capital was only.about £6OOO, and the fact that numerous applications were now being received for assistance, the speaker thought they should call a halt in advancing loans, and ho thought they should not tie up any more money for a period of more .than two years. He pointed out that the repayments of loans already advanced would eman an income of about £2OO per annum.

Mr W. J. Howell, who seconded tho motion, endorsed the mover's remarks. Mr B. B. Gardener supported the motion, but he and Mr Mackay both suggested that the question should be reopened in six months' time, and .suggested that an addendum to that effect be tacked on to tho motion. Mr Goldsmith added the following words to his motion: "The position to be again reviewed in six months' time." The motion in this amended form was then put and carried unanimously.