HOROWHENUA COUNTY PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Shannon News, 23 May 1924, Page 3

HOROWHENUA COUNTY PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL GLNLUAL MELTING. The seventh annual general meeting of the Horowhenua County Patriot/Tc Association pok place i';i tho Y.M.C.A. rooms yesterday afternoon, the president (Mr p. \V. Goldsmith) occupying the 'chair. The meeting was preceded by a committee meeting at which there were present, the chairman, Airs T. F. Gibson, and Messrs J. »M. Richards (lhakara), A. MuLeavey (Oliauj, W. Kilsby (Koputaroa), G. P. Outlay (Te lioro), W. Murdoch (Shannon), R. McLean (Paraparaumu), C. S. Keedwcll and Howard Andrew. Apologies for nonattendance were received from. Messrs Brandon, McKay, Smith, 11. Mcol--son, Fi'aser. CORRESPONDENCE. The Auckland War Relief Association iorwarded particulars of a number of unsatisfactory cases of applications lor assistance.—. Received. A returned soldier forwarded a, cheque for £.!.•>. being an instalment on. a loan made by the Association Received.

A cheque for £2i was received being tlie final repayment on a loan of £SO.

TUte AVellingio/n Hospital Hoard wrote iu regard (o a man sent to the hospital from this district, asking that the Association bear the cost of treatment. A reply wa.s sent thai as this <nian had enlisted from the Canterbury district, any responsibility should be theirs'. It was pointed out, however, that Canterbury hod, in communication with the local Association, declined to assist t-Jiis man as lie bad been discharged fit from the Army and bis illness was in no wa.y attributable do his war service.

.Mr Murdoch: said that this case was one where a man of excellent charactor had been sent to tlie hospital and bad to receive treatment with insulin which was very expensive. Although discharged fit,'lie was now ill and be did not think it reflected much credit on the Canterbury Association to refuse him assistance. Tie considered that something should be done as although tfhe man was ~m ill directly as the result of his war service, he had a medical report to state that indirectly his war service was responsible. He could earn only enough m enable him to live and could not possibly pay the hospitrii charges. The chairman stated that it was one of title cases- where- if the man required assistance in addition to ?ne hospital treatment he would -recommend that it should he given-. I'rv Hospital Hoard, however, would have to worry the case out for themse!»'?s, as the Association could not accept responsibility. A cheque for £lB 10s 2d, r?ptyn>' nt of loan and interest, was rocivtd. The ITawkes Hay War Relief Association forwarded a, cheque iv.r £lO in respect of a grant of t "nis uir;< nM made to a ma.n'.whb was Hawj es Hay's responsibility.—Roc d«d. A Wairarapa fanner wrote asking for time to pay his inst rm Mf on n loan owing to 'the bad season e>perienced in that district.

Mr Ca-tley said that the obpet of the Association was io a»si-'it ru'"n who were iw against it. If ilk> man was trying he 'should \.h irivcn ovciy chance.—Received.

The Wellington War Relief, Association wrote, asking for information regarding a man who had got a. grant from that, body, but who staled that he was unable to make the repayments agreed upon. A 'report from a member of + he local Association was read stating that this man was ,an .excellent worker and an honest, trier, but was niifoitunate in having had large unexpected expense, and also had been incapacitated for some time owing to an old wound breaking out, [f was decided that further enquiries be uui.de with the object of getting a remission of interest from the Wellington Association. The Taraiinki War Holier Association wrote refusing a-ssi-stan.ee in the case of n man recommended by the local Association, stating that in their opinion the case' was not a necessitous one.—Received.

Tn the case of a disabled man with a pension of £2 is per week, who had a family to keep and owing to his disability was unable to obtain employment,' it was agreed that a grant of?0s per week should be made until such time as suitable employmen t. was obtained, or in the opinion of the Association further assistance was not required. An application for £:V to buy groceries, was received. The chairman stated that this was a case where considerable assistance had already been -given, an order having been given to a storekeeper some time ago so thai his family would be assured, of obtaining stores. 11 was decided to grant the request on the former conditions.

The Pensions Department wrote hi reference- to the local Association's application for an increased pension for an ex-soldier that, as this man had enlisted with the Imperial forces and served with them throughout the war, that he was not eligible for a supplementary pension from the Department, They advised that lie should apply to the Imperial authorities. The secretary explained that this man had lived at Ota.ki .before the war but was on a visit to England when the war broke out and joined the Imperial forces. It was decided to give what assistance was possible. ' A number of further repayments of small amounts were received. LOAN APPLICATIONS. An application for £IOO to enable a. returned soldier to take up the lease of a farm was granted. A further sum of £IOO \Vas granted in another case for the purpose of assisting towards the purc.ha.se of a house.

Two other applications of £l5O and £% r > were received. It was decided that, the larger amount be reduced to £IOO, this being the limit allowed, bv the Association, a.n<l that if inquiries

proved satisfactory both applications be granted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The following officers were re-elect-ed for the-cnsuing vear : —■ President.—-Mr P. W. Goldsmith.

Management Committee.—Mrs T. F. .Gibson and Messrs J. McLeavey, A. McLeavey, C S. Keedwell, S. A. Broadbelt, .1. M. Richards, W. Kilsby, J. Bovis, W. Murdoch A. Maekay, .T. sniitli, n. Mclean. G. P. Cat-ley, T. Eraser, LP. Brandon, H. Nioolson, L. St. George H. Andrew, and C. Noes. On the motion of Mr A. McLeavey a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Executive for the able manner in which- they had carried out the work of the Association, the meeting concluding with the customary vote of, thanks to the chair.