CORRESPONDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 54, 20 October 1914, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

[To The Editor STHATfoun Post. )

Sir, —As it has come to my knowledge that certain misrepresentations have been made with regard to the constitution of the Huntly Alines .Disaster Relief Fund, and as certain misconceptions seem to have arisen in the public mind as to wimt degree of assistance is required by'the unfortunate people here, i thought it.weil co inform you ui what the position really is, ana i trust you will give full publicity to the facts.

A short time ago, a public meeting was held to form a Patriotic Fund Committee, and a committee was formed as follows:—The members of the Huntly T°wn Board (live in number), the Rev. J. Richards, and Messrs:H. R. Porter, S. Dixon, and L. P. Harris, snr.j with power to add to their number. Almost immediately they added the names of Messrs W. D.. Thompson, Alex. Mcivinnon, and F. Storey, three influential farmers in the neighbourhood.

On the Monday after the disaster this committee met and closed the Patriotic Fund and resolved itself into a relief committee, adding to its numbers the Executive of the Miners' Union ex-officio, and Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P. The Minister of Mines and Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P., were present, and gave their approval to all that was done. Later the committee added to its number the Anglican Vicar, Father Edge, and Mr E. J. Farrell, J.P.

The chairman of the committee is J. P. Bailey, Esq., about the best known man in the Waikato 3 being chairman of the Huntly Town Board, Huntly Road Board, Waikato County Council, and Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, and president of many other committees and societies.

, Trustees of the fund have been appointed as follows:—Messrs J. P. Bailey, L. P. Harris, jnr., and Robt. Greenwell, business men of high standing. These trustees are to administer the fund until all the money is collected, and after that to act in conjunction with the Public Trustee, Their immediate duties are to relieve temporary distress, and to this end they have fixed the following temporary scale of relief:—For each widow 15s per week, and for each child under fourteen years of age, 5s per week. What payment is made after the lists are closed will of course depend on the amount of the fund. At a mass meeting of miners held last ' week, these facts were hud before the men by the Chairman of the Committee and received with unanimous approval. The S.'/j. Herald has shown its recognition of our committee by sending us a first instalment of £OOO. The Government also sent £2OO, and the Governor and the Minister have subscribed. The need for relief will be seen by perusal of the appeal which my committee has issued, and which I enclose.

■ • We have no desire to go, against any other organisation which is endeavouring' to raise funds for the relief of the widows and orphans here, and we make ao comment on their actions, but, as out' solo object is to do the jjest for the widows and orphans, and as, being on the spot, we should know best the actual state of affairs, we think it only fair that it should be known who we are and what we are doing, for we are informed on credible authority that we are being misrepresented. We are conscious that any controversy over this matter would only injure the fund, and for that reason we will be content with this plain statement of our case. It is to be hoped that, when it is known what the actual state of affairs here is, all committees will i see that it is best to work together for'the common good. Trusting you will see your way to give publicity to these facts and that we will have your valuable assistance in raising funds.— [ remain, yours sincerely, F. HARRIS, Hon. Sec, Huntly Mines Disaster Relief Committee. Huntly, October 3rd, 1914. (As already pretty well known we are accepting contributions towards this fund.—Ed. "Stratford Post.")