War Relief Funds.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 95, 23 August 1915, Page 2

War Relief Funds.

STRATFORD FAIR 3 OTIC COMMITTEE.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

At the Town Hall, Stratford, on

Saturday afternoon, there was au attendance of nearly IUU citizens and residents from neighbouring districts to receive Luc report and balance-sheet of the Strut-lord Patriotic Committee and to elect the new committee, whoso duties for the future would bo cast on somewhat different lines than in the past, owing, principally, to the necessity for dealing with cases of sickness and wounded among the soldiers of the district who had returned from the seat of war.

The Mayor (Mr J. W. 13oon) presided, and seats on the platform were occupied by Messrs W. P. Kirkwood (chairman of the Patriotic Committee),

J. 13. Richards (lion, sec.), T. H. Penn, 11. Abraham, N. J King, J. McMillan, T. E. Coleman, and Or, Paget. The meeting opened with the singing of “The .National Anthem,” after which the Mayor addressed the gathering.

The Mayor said the meeting had been called to appoint a central committee. The idea of calling the meeting for Saturday afternoon was to have representatives from the country districts. The meeting was really the annual meeting of the Patriotic Committee The committee had done a great deal in the past under different circumstances to what would be required for the future. The minutes of the first meeting when the committee was appointed were confirmed, and the report and balance-sheet already published in the columns of the Stratford Evening Post and copies of which had been distributed in the meeting were taken as road. THE CHAIRMAN’S SPEECH. Mr Kirkwood, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said the report, while not being voluminous, was comprehensive, and covered the operations of the committee during the past year, and the balancesheet clearly set out the financial pqsition of the various funds of the committee. Since, he said, the committee had been formed twelve months ago, events at the seat of war had moved very rapidly, and the conditions today were such that it was thought desirable by the members ol the committee to call the present public meeting for Stratford and surrounding districts and elect the committee. When the committee was formed, the conditions were different to now; then, they did not know if the war would bo over in twelve months, and they could not anticipate what had happened. Now there was the desirability of unity throughout the Empire, anti every member of the committee Soft it was only right that they should take the public into their confidence, seeing that they were responsible for the funds. Continuing, Mr Kirkwood said he thought tlie Iceynote should he unity, and if necessary to acquire this, the members of the committee I'oit that they did not mind being effaced entirely; all were anxious to secure the best representation of the town and district, which sentiment,' he felt sure, the meeting would heartily agree with-. (Applause), The report mentioned country representation, and in this the committee thought that it was only right to have representatives from some of the country bodies on the general committee. With regard to what had been done in the district, there was no doubt they had done well, and no doubt also that they could get more if it had been required. One point, the speaker said he wished to make was 'the need for economy of their funds and resources. All would realise that Anis-dircctcd effort was a waste of time. They should set out with an idea of the resources at their disposal, and so work that they could secure advantages from them over a period of time. If it had been considered advisable to have pushed any particular fund started in the district, ho felt there would have been a big increase in the total handled by the committee. There was the case of the Hospital Ship Fund, for which £716 had been subscribed; the committee could very easily have got a great deal more, but it was not necessary; a certain amount was required and when this was reached the fund was closed. As to the methods adopted by the Patriotic Committee, if these had not met with the approval of the public, then all he could say was that be was sorry. He folt they were working absolutely on right linos. The committee had not had an easy row to hoe ; while it was an organising body it had to act—and will have to act—as a sort of buffer between the public and the citizen army. Many suggestions had been made to the committee in the best of spirit, but they were not, from au organising point of view, of a practicable nature. The committee, in fact, could not always agree with the suggestions put before it. That, of course, did not make for popularity, but members should not stop to consider that, as they bad a duty to perform, a very | responsible one, namely, to administer Abe Sick and Wounded Fund, which I was the most important matter the committee would have to deal with in the future. It was a matter he would ask them to take seriously into con-

siderntion: it was tlie particular point upon wbicli lie wanted absolute unity. He felt ;,are that when the Wellington Military f und was properly constituted it would form the best recruiting 'agent possible. Men had gone willingly, and would go, but it would be a great relief of mind to the recruits ajjd their relatives to know that as bhe soldiers returned sick and disabled

they would I m» cared lor (|» 11 1e apart from smy feeling of suiy district in New Zealand. In lact, the men would he placed in the rare ol' the whole of New Zealand. The constitution provided tor the -Military District and the National Knud was the same: there was only the difference ol boundaries. The Military District would embrace Wellington. Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa. .Manawatm. and Taranaki; the constitution was the same in one ease as in the other. -Mr Kirkwood referred to the matter of consolidation of the funds as mentioned in the report, and said that when this was carried into effect the public would realise that the efforts of this and other centres would be dove-tailed, and the amount provided for the sick and wounded would be dealt with in a manner that should be. They should see that the men they were sending to the front got the benefit of the money subscribed for them. He Imped the meeting would bo unanimous on that point, rProceeding, .Mr Kirkwood said the war would affect the incomes of the people: some would be increased and some decreased. Those who got increases would no doubt give towards the funds liberally—many had been doing their utmost for a considerable time for this fund. But shortly they could expect taxation, which, of course, would affect some harder than others; but whatever the effect, everyone ; n the community should give what he or .she was able to afford. What they had in the district in the way of resources was hard to say, but he. always looked upon that as a reserve, in the same way as the. men. There was ho doubt it was due to every,man bearing anus and to those who will go to the front that we should subscribe as liberally as was in our power.— The amount (ill IIs) appearing in the bal-ance-sheet as a cable to the late Colonel -Malone was the cost of the committee's expression of congratulations to Colonel Malone and his men on their fine achievement on Gallipoli Peninsula.—(Applause). In concluding, Mi Kirkwood paid a tribute to the late Colonel M.iione and the other brave fellows who had fallen in the- cause of our Empire. BRIEF AND TO THE POINT.

.Mr Penn made a brief speech. He said that what the committee had done spoke for itself, and what it had not done no doubt many good friends would remind them of.—(Laughter). As treasurer, lie tendered his jfersonal thanks to all the donors to the funds. Xo doubt other calls upon them would he just as willingly met. There were many things to do of even more importance than the work of the committee for the past year. He seconded the adoption of the report. CANDID CRITICISM. Mr K. Jackson said the suh-comit-tees had never heet* called upon to receive reports, which, jn his opinion was a mistake. The , suh-conunitlees could have been got together in the different centres. ■. ) Mr Kirkwood said that if the committee had 1 thought it was necessary it would have been done. The committee had kept in touch with them and with the work that was being done, and did tint feel justified in calling them together until there was something 'to do. Mr .Jackson quoted as an example the relations of the executive of the general committee of the A. and P. Association, to which Air Richards replied that the analogy would not hold water. He believed the actions of the Patriotic Committee in carrying out its duties were perfectly in order. Mr Campbell .Jackson considered the members of the committee should speak from, the floor of the hall. He did not say so in any spirit of antagonism.

Female voice (laughingly): Aha! .Mr Richards: “As I was the previous speaker, the remarks of Mr Jackson might he construed as being directed against mo. Rut 1 wisli to point out the difficulty I Would experience in writing on thid table from the. .body of the hall.”-—(Laughter). '% THE CHAIRMAN’S EXES.

Mr 0. Smart drew attention to tlio item £5 os for the delegate’s expenses to the conference in Wellington. The Mayor said the amount was the expenses of the chairman of the committee. ;

.Air Smart pointedly referred to the movement being a patriotic one, and people were contributing lor this object and not towards the chairman’s expenses. ■ ' i

K”Mr K. Jackson said people di.ove their. Cars all round the' country.; and bore the expense for the good of the cause, and surely the chairman of the Patriotic Committee was not paid his ■expenses on going to Wellington!— (Applause). Air C. I). Sole said it was only right that the chairman should have his expenses. He had to stay nearly a week at a very important conference, and to question the payment of five guineas at the meeting was quite uncalled for. —(Applause).

|)r. Paget said he'would lie astonished at the tone of the remark. 1 ! of certain gentlemen did he not know them better.—(Mr Campbell Jackson: “Oh.”) Dr. Paget pointed out that tin l chairman had worked strenuously month after month in the interests ol the committee, and considered such remarks were really contemptible.— (A pplanse). .Mr K. Dingle £aid it was painful to him to hear remarks calculated to raise ill-feeling on such an occasion ; instead, they should be standing shoulder to shoulder. He considered the committee had done their best. That they had made mistakes there was no doubt, but after the question had been raised, the answer given should have been sufficient. The committee had a, perfect right in the matter ol granting the five guineas.—(Applause).

THK DOCTOR'S GALLANTRY. i Mr Dingle raised another' matter; One of the lady members of the purchasing committee felt she had been slighted, as she had never been asked , ii) make any purchases. | Dr. Paget expressed regret that any j ladv should feel so hurt, and as per- ; sonally responsible to the committee, he took till the blame upon himself, j As Hiey till knew, the business of the j committee was done under great pressure, and he assured Mr Dingle it was a pure oversight. He wished also to thank all the ladies for their great j kindness and willing sacrifice of pet- j sonal feelings in allowing him to shift | them from one class of duty to another at a moment's notice, and in doing so without a murmur except ol approval. The ladies had. indeed, shown immense loyalty. I nder the circumstances, he was sorry that even one should have felt hurt, and he offered hi.s personal apology. The doctor made special reference to the work done by Mrs and Miss Curtis, who had borne the brunt of it, and to whom the special thanks of the community are due. OUT OK ORDER. Mr K. A. Osmond deprecated the time of the meeting being taken up in discussing trivial criticism of the work of the committee for the past twelve months.—(Applause). They had done great L work under most unusual circumstances. Air Osmond referred to the reference in the report to the Sick and Wounded Fund, and stated that suggestions in the .direction of methods of raising funds should be encouraged. He was proceeding to instance an offer of his own, when the .Mayor said an opportunity would be given later to do so. Air Osmond was also ruled out of order in further remarks on the consolidation of patriotic funds.

“RECEIVERS EVER!”

Mr Dingle brought up the question of tin 1 advisability ol a recent collection for funds lor leather waist coats having been conducted by another body than the Patriotic Committee. He considered that il waistcoats, or anything else for the matter ol that, were wanted, they should lie charged to the committee, who should then, il necessary, make further appeals for funds. The collection-business, Mr Dingle inferred, was being overdone., The Mayor explained that the ladies had a committee of their own. and, they thought it would be a, good way to satisfy the request for waistcoats. A number of people wen' always anxious to givei in special directions, in support o| which he stated, that money had been received from outside districts for the purpose. At any rate, the matter bail nothing to do with the Patriotic Committee.

After further explanations hy other committeemen, Mr Dingle was hoard to remark: “The lady deceived me!”

The Mayoress (Mrs .1. M. Boon), who said it was not fair to the Patriotic Committee, explained that the collection was conducted purely hy the Ladies Patriotic Committee . HELPING RECRUITS. Mr Campbell Jackson said he had no objection to the item of live guineas for the Chairman’s expenses. He further stated that any amount of men were not able to go owing to their circumstances- —perhaps £‘2o or £3O of obligations per annum were keeping them from going. Would it he unreasonable,' he asked, to endeavor to find ways and means of allowing them to go ? The Mayor said a special committee had dealt with several requests for assistance, and none had been refused. WHICH 1C IS OUR £3OO ? Mr Dingle referred to the £3OO donation of the Stratford Hairy Companv. and said he (as Chairman) was not'able to explain to his shareholders what had been done with the money. He wanted to know what had become of it. There was the possibility that had this been made known, another contribution might have been toithcoming. Mr Kirkwood said : the money was voted to the Patriotic Committee in a number ol cases, and some sent to the Government, but they had done better., they had‘the money here, to be ‘ expended ,as the Committee considered best.

Mr Penn: Mr Dingle surely could not have expected all the monies subscribed. to be ear-maijkod!

Mr' I). .). Malone ;Hs ? not P the money at interest Y — M r Penn; Acs.

On being put to the meeting, the motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was carried unanimously.

CONSTi’JTTJO.N OP COMM ITTEE. Dr. Paget, in moving the resolution for the election of the new committee, said his idea was to give representatives to the country districts, and make the representation over as wide an area as possible. A scheme had been formulated in Wellington by a, conference of representatives ol the Patriotic Executives of the Wellington Military District to organise the whole district with "fund districts with a central executive, which would control the finances, so that lltcre would ho equality of relief to the returned soldiers for the different districts. It might he found that a local lund was not adequate to deal with the casualties in some districts, and, again there might be immense hinds and only a lew casualties. Some might have “to scratch for crusts,” while others lived in luxury. Therefore, it was necessary to pool the funds, and just as it was necessary to pool the Wounded funds, mi it .was

necessary to organise affairs here 50 that the whole organisation should be complete. In order te give as wide representation as possible to the country districts, ot whom Stratfoid was the geographical centre, he moved that the Patriotic Committee be formed on the following lines: That the Committee consist of nine niemoers elected this meeting; that the local bodies (Stratford County Council, Whangamomoua Count* Council, and Strratlord Borough Council) have one representative each; that the Patriotic Committees (Ngaere, Cardiff, Mahoe, Midhirst, Toko, Strathmore, Koluiratahi, and any other Patriotic Committee in this district) have one each; that the committee so formed elect an executive 'not to exceed nine.” It would never do, the mover pointed out, for any I society or body to be allowed to distribute its own funds. If that was so, they would soon get into a muddle, and the public’s money would be wasted. He considered the whole of the 'funds in New Zealand should be pooled for the ■ sick and wounded in a National Fund and not in a parochial :manner.—(Applause). He hoped to 'sec a general fund under the administration of the Patriotic Committee, which would be representative of the whole district of which Stratford happens to be tbo centre, and to which all should be absolutely loyal.—(Ap- ' plause). | Mr McMillan seconded the motion. He said it had been stated the Com'mittee as out of touch with the pub--1 lie, but the Committee was not to | blame. He felt that the Committee constituted on the lines of the resolution would be in touch with the whole district. THE PUGS ANT) CON'S. Mr E. Jackson suggested that the Committee should be called together 1 at least once a month, j Hr. Paget did not agree that the ■ executive controls the general committee, but the general controlled the 'executive. 1 Mr F, J. McDonald considered better work would be done if Mr Jackson’s idea was carried out. I Mr 11. MeK. Morison said Hr. ' Paget had pufc the position very 'clearly. Tho meeting ought to show 'the public a solid front and sink all 'differences. There was splendid material to work on.

Mr O'. Jackson agreed with the resolution, He said the Scottish Society were unanimous that all the funds 'ought to be pooled. It grieved them 'when the Patriotic Committee did not 'support them. He hoped the Committee would work in the interests ol 'every effort that was made. The 'local Press had also not supported the Society. There was much feeling throughout the country as to the 'Committee’s treatment of the Society. iHe said he had asked the then Mayor 'about the Society’s proposals, but he lhad turned a deaf ear to him.

Mr Malone raised a point of order as to whether Mr Campbell Jackson could address himself to Mr Kirkwood instead of the chair.

Mr Skoglund said the matter under discussion was Dr. Paget’s motion.

The Mayor said he would like to have everything cleared up. Mr Campbell J ackson said the Committee should have gone into the country and see what money could be got. He assured them the Committee “fell dead” the last six mouths,— (Applause and laughter.) ADDED REPRESENTATION. On the Rev. Howard’s suggestion, , it, was decided to add a member of each religious body to the committee. I The suggestion that the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board should have representation was turned down. Mr J. H. Thompson asked about the religious bodies. Would the Star of ; the East have representation? “Let | ’em all come” wag his motto. Dr. Paget (smilingly) said that as 1 probably the only Unitarian present, he would likely represent them—(Laughter). Mr Dingle raised the question of dairy companies being represented, of which suggestion Dr. Paget appeared to doubt the bona tides. He said he did not want the question to be reduced to an absolute farce. VOICE FROM THE COUNTRY. Mr Kellar (Kohuratahi )referred to the matter of unity, and suggested that the Patriotic Committee change its name on the basis of the National Relief Association, and form a branch. Auckland was working on these, lines on its own. In conclusion, Mr Kellar said that if the meeting was going to thrash out matters in connection with the Committee’s last year’s work, it would have been better not to have invited delegates from the country districts! Dr. Paget said the scheme was in course of competition. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. Mr Coleman supported the dairy companies being represented, as all of them were not contributing. Mr Dingle said the companies represented a sura of £300,000, not another body represented so much. Dr. Paget then moved that the dairy companies have representation, and this was seconded by Mr Sole. Mr P. Thomson said if they agreed to this, they should also include the freezing companies. Mr Richards said the discussion showed the truth of one statement in the report to the effect that the men elected “were about to traverse a new road.” He.'hoped that with full patience and a certain amount dit

humor that would arrive at the basis of the resolution.

The meeting then decided that the following dairy companies send one representative each: Stratford, Midhirst, Lowgarth, Ngaire, Cardiff, Tututawa, and Makahu. MOKE MOTIONS. Mr J. H. Thompson’s motion that three ladies' be added to the -committee was lost, the voices of the ladies present being strong, for the Noes. Mr Thompson’s motion that the Scottish Society be asked to send one representative was also lost. Dr. Paget’s motion, that the Patriotic Committee have the right to add one representative of any Patriotic Committee that may be formed in the district, was carried. NOMINATION TIME. On the Mayor’s name being mentioned for nomination, Mr Skoglund said that as chief magistrate of the town, lie should not be asked to go to election, but ex-officio was at the head of the movement. It was absolutely wrong that his name should be among the number.

Mr J. Masters said their Mayor should not bo slighted.

Mr Kirkwood pointed out that there was no hard-and-fast rule in the matter. The Mayors of Wellington and Wanganui were not chairmen of the Patriotic Committees in those towns. “Whatever chairman the Committee elects,” said Mr Kirkwood, “I shall bo perfectly satisfied.’ ’—(Applause.) Mr King said that the Mayor should take the reins.—(Applause.) The Mayor asked that the matter be not further discussed, and 1 the nominations were proceeded with, and the voting papers gathered. WAITING FOll THE COUNT.

While the scrutineers were carrying out their duties, Mr E. Jackson moved that the meeting confirm the principle of a Dominion Sick and Wounded Fund, which would have control of certain monies for distribution in necessitous cases.

Mr Kirkwood explained that another conference was to be held shortly in Wellington, and it was very probable the Wellington Military District Fund, to embrace the contributions from Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Taranaki, would be agreed to, with the object that the richer districts might bo placed side by side with the poorer and so enable the wounded soldiers to be treated as nearly as possible on an equality. Mr Richards pointed out that in effect the meeting had approved of Mr Jackson’s idea by adopting the report in which a clause appeared favoring consolidation in tho new Wellington Military area. In reply to Mr C. Jackson, the Mayor said the money from the Scottish Society would be earmarked for the purpose of the sick and wounded in the same way as other accounts under the committee’s jurisdiction were earmarked for'other special pur-

poses. Dr. Paget said the Committee had not dealt with the Belgian Fund, as the money tor that fund had not got to be administered, but only to be forwarded to headquarters. In the speaker’s opinion, there would ' ery shortly only be one fund, and that would bo the Sick and Wounded, and it would take all their contributions to cope with the demands upon it. Any other money would almost certainly be raised by taxation. There would not likely be another donation to the Government; thousands and thousands of pounds had been sent to the Government, but not a single bit of information had been vouchsafed to the donors as to what had been cone with it. The money had simply gone into the Consolidated Fund, THE NEW COMMITTEE. The following were the nominations and the number of rotes secured by each: Messrs T. H. Penn ill). A. F. Grant (43), J. AY. Boon Ml), J. McAllister (40), W. P. Kirkwood (37), Geo. Sangster (37), C. Jackson (35), J. McMillan (33), Dr. Paget (32) elected; J. B. Richards also secured 32 votes ami was balloted out, J. Masters (31), P. Thomson (28), H, Abraham (23). On the motion of Mi- Thompson, seconded.by Mr F. London, it was decided that the committee elected carry out the duties until the full committee was formed.