THE PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 92, 19 August 1915, Page 3

THE PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE

WHAT STRATFORD HAS DONE.

Tlio report of the Stratford Patriotic Committee, to he presented at what, it is hoped, will he a great public meeting on Saturday next, has been kindly placed at our disposal by the Secretary, .hr J. B. Richards. It reads as under:—

The Patriotic Committee begs to report on its operations for the past year. Most citizens will remember that the public meeting convened by the Mayor for the 10th August. 19.14, in the old Municipal Chambers <vas very largely attended and that the? present Committee, with the exception of the present Mayor and Mr Coleman, was appointed as an Executive. Mr Boon was added to the Committee shortly after the Mayoral Election. At the request of the County Council, Mr T. E. Coleman has also been added to the Committee.

The energies of the Committee were firstly directed towards equipping solders in every desirable manner, with the result that, in spite of many difficulties, every recruit from this district was furnished with whatever was necessary to ensure tho prompt acceptance of his services by the Military Authorities. All this was dealt with very fully by a report and bal-ance-sheet dated 28th November. 1914, and published by the local Press. Following that period, the Committee’s actions were directed towards assistance in recruiting, to attending to requirements ol soldiers in camp and on active service, and to several cases of relief to soldiers and their dependents. Immediately following the appeal of His Excellency the Governor for funds to equip the Hospital Ship, your Committee took action accordingly. The spontaneity of the public response enabled the sum of £7IG 7s lid to he forwarded, and the Fund closed in a little over a fortnight.

While the past year lias called for strenuous action on the part of your Committee and many demands have been made on the public purse, it is apparent that the future will demand consistent and even greater efforts. The pride of our manhood has gone forth in defence of all that lies at the foundation of whatever we hold dear. How nobly they are acquitting themselves we can all read. In each report their dash and gallantry calls forth admiration from men whose lives have been spent among valorous deeds. English, Canadian and Italian newspapers acclaim thorn heroes, and even question whether any other .troops in the world would have shown such dash, and English Statesmen have paid tribute to the gallantry of our lads at times like the present when all the troops are performing wonders. Some of our brave lads, alas, have made the supreme sacrifice and some have been incapacitated by wounds and otherwise. Beyond question nun soldiers “well have borne their part”, and will continue do so. y- f Those of us-| jcho.'caluioif audydo, not, take. our share'of tlie jEna-. pile by participation in' the duties, gangers and glories of tile firing line have. a very clear call of t duty at home, and that is to make due sacrifice to assist (all soldiers and theii dependents ' who ;ifvquife Assistance; There can surely he no doubt that such sacrifice will he readily made and that a determination to adequately provide' for those who have suffered will* he maintained. The chief difficulty will probably bo found in a lack of unity and organisation and in ah inclination to divided effort. Now, division of effort can only lead to much unprofitable diligence, the only reward of which is the toil of a rough journey. There must he co-ordina-tion and organisation of effort to get the host results, and this of course involves unity of control. We must endeavour to got the best men we know to undertake the duties of the Committee, and being satisfied ol their worthiness, to loyally support them.

It must ever be borne in mind that those who are asked to manage these affairs are about to traverse a new road, with no precedents or finger posts to guide them. Errors will no doubt be made but good men in charge will keep errors at a minimum. Consolidation of Patriotic hunds throughout the Dominion is aimed at and probable of accomplishment. Such consolidation will leave each district under one executive control elected within the district, but with advisory and collecting sub-committees. Each district executive will have full powers of administration within its own district. A Dominion executive elected by district executives, will maintain supervision and will have power to make levies of money on districts which have surplus of funds, such levies to be given to districts in need of them. Two Conferences, for the purpose of consolidating .funds have been held in Wellington and a delegate from this Committee attended and urged our requirements. This matter bristles difficulties and a full measure of compromise is necessary to ensure success. Should Dominion consolidation fail your Committee favours consolidation within the Wellington Military Area. The total amount received by the Committee up to 23rd July amounts to £3.780 18 S Kid and the total amount in hand is Cl,.‘ill 10s SJd, o! which £B2l ISs Ifld was received for the benefit of sick and wounded and their dependents. In conclusion, the Committee again urges the necessity of persistent and maintained effort and ol concent rated and unified administration by a Committee which will not only bo sympathetic and kiad, but which will think, consider, and act with business economy, acumen and method.

BALANCE-SHEET PATRIOTIC FUND.

R ECEtI'TS. Brought forward from balance 28th Nov., 191-1 doll 0 o.} Jsv contributions to date received since 28th Nov. 1914 L 577 1S 9 £2130 IS 9’

To balance cash in hand ... >4 3 11a To balance cash National Bank 11 G 9 To balance cash on deposit at call ... 1300 0 0 £1314 10 81 £2130 18 9i J. B. RICHARDS. Hon. Secretary. 23rd July. 1915. 1 hereby certify that 1 have this day examined the hooks of the Stratford Patriotic Fund Trustees (Messrs W. P. Kirkwood and T. H. Penn), and compared same with the bank pass book of the fund account, and find that the above statement of Receipts and Expenditure is a correct statement as at the 23rd of July, 1915, according to such hooks. ALFRED COLEMAN. Hon. Auditor. Stratford, 13th August, 1915.

NOTE.—lncluding the sum of £2OO allocated by the committee for benefit of wortnded and sick soldiers, Uie total amount held for this purpose at date is £824. 18s 10d, the balance of £519 11s 10J,d is held for general purposes according to conditions of donation.—£ll344 10s Bid.

EXPEND nTKE. To Public Account Hospital Ship 7113 7 11 To presents to ,soldiers on active service, including socks, etc. 13 17 4 To Advertising 3 10 G To relief to returned soldiers and dependents ... 10 G G To cable Col. Malone 1 11 0 To artificial teeth for recruits 5 5 0 To delegates expenses to conference ■5 0 0 To petty cash G 10