SICK AND WOUNDED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 71, 23 July 1915, Page 5

SICK AND WOUNDED

THE QUESTION OF FUNDS, SCOTTISH SOCIETY’S PRESIDENT STATES THE POSITION.

[To The Kditoh c invm)RD Post.] ! Sir,— I lieg space to reply to a letter signed by “Scottie’,’ which appears in your journal of to-day’s issue.. ]am exceedingly grieved to think that any member of the Stratford community should use such means with the object of throwing cold water mi the efforts of the Stratford Scottish Society in raising a substantial Fund for the benefit of our Boys.—the Boys who have voluntarily gone to light our battle. To the broad-minded. thinking man an anonymous letter is not worthy of consideration but many are swayed by such, no matter how misleading such writings may he. The sole ob- ' ject of the Society is to raise as large a Fund ns possible* and every penny of such a. Fund will he for the benefit of our Returned Soldiers, who may he in need of assistance. The

Society regrets that your correspond-: ent thought it his duty to ask such a question. The administration of the Fund has not been considered by the Society, but the public can rest ■assured that the proceeds will be handed to trustees approved of by-a majority of the public, and as a gen--1 era I meeting will be called by the Patriotic Committee at an early date, suggestions as to the disposal of funds raised can then be considered. As all are aware the Stratford Scottish Society hold-their annual gatacriug about this time, and at the fil'sfc meeting it was decided to donate tb° funds to the Wounded and Sick Soldiers’ Fund. Since that meeting the donations have been so spontaneous., that the Society’s effort bids fair to become the supreme effort of the jStratford settler in creating a fund ; worthy of the district. The Society feel that they have the confidence of the public and are assured that their efforts will result in a huge financial success and still ask all true patriots to lend their assistance to this worthy cause. I would point out that when | my Society decided to start this .Fund no other organisation was in evidence for the same purpose. H as your correspondent states that the Patriotic Committee are of opinion that these funds should be administered by the one body, how is it that they refused to inaugurate the Belgian Relief Fund which is’still being administered by a separate Committee. Thanking von.—l am, etc.. G.-SANGSTERv—--President Scottish Society. Julv 22nd, 1910.

Copies of- the following letters are also handed to us for publication; one from the Patriotic Committee and a reply by Mr George Sangster:— Stratford. 22nd July, 1915. The President, Scottish Society, Stratford. Dear Sir.— My committee directs mo to adviso von that numerous enquries have been made by members of the public, of my committee members, with a view of eliciting some definite information concerning the intention of your Society in the direction of administration of the funds collected and beingcollected for the dhove purpose. My committee has been told that the public of this district generally regard us as the guardians of this movement and we admit that there is at least a measure of truth in this contention. We are firmly of opinion that division of administration ot funds in tin’s district is highly undesirable and that unity of efforts should be promoted as much as possible. To enable his to reply to enquire and for our own information my committee would highly esteem your reply setting forth your Society’s intentions in regard to funds received for the benefit of Sick and Wounded Soldiers.—lours faithfully. J. B. Richards, Hon, Sec. Patriotic Committee and Sick and Wounded Fund.

J, H. Richards, Ksq.. Hon. Secretary, Patriotic Committee. Stratford. ’ i SICK AM) WOrXDKD FT'XT). Dear Sir.—Your letter of 22nd to hand re above fund, and I note your remarks. ! have to inform you that my Society have not yet considered the disposal of funds collected. I note that you are calling a general meeting at an early date, and matters in connection with disposal of the funds can then he considered. At the time my Society started this fund, I would point out thitt no movement had been made by your Committee with such an objective. Trusting that this explanation will enable your Committee to give a satisfactory reply to your numerous enquirers. Yours faithfully. (J. SAXGSTKK. President Scottish Society.