PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3, 2 September 1915, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

TARANAKI'S CONFERENCE. A conference of delegates of the Patriotic Committees of Taranaki, convened by Mr Wilson (Mayor of New Plymouth) was held in the Town Hall, Stratford, yesterday morning, when there were present: Messrs W r . P. Kirkwood and T. H. Penn, Stratford; Dixon (Mayor) and Kimbell (Hawera); G. 11. Horner (Patea), 11. W. J. McNeil (Auroa and Otakoho), W. A. Kennedy (Kohuratahi), Revs. Stent and Tinsley (Opunake), J. T. Belcher (Cardiff), Young (Inglewood), Dive (Eltham), Marfell and Were (Toko), Stevenson (Turakiua), C. E. Betts (Kapouga), and W. Hill (chairman of the Wellington Committee). Mr Wilson said that he had convened the meeting to discuss matters that would bo brought up before the conference in Wellington on September 15. The Association, which is main part of the scheme, shall consist exclusively of local societies for raising and administering war relief funds within their respective districts. Under the scheme, all Taranaki would bo federated and be known as “The New Zealand National War Relief Association, Taranaki Branch.” A telegram was received from Mr R. Dunn, president of the Taranaki Farmers’ Union, apologising for his absence, and stating that he was in complete sympathy with the object, provided local control of funds was maintained.

Mr Hill said it was a great honor to be asked to attend the conference, but at the same time, he did not want to “poke hi.s nose in other people’s business.” The matter of the distribution of relief funds was as serious to him as fighting was to the man in the trenches. They upraided' the men who had not gone to the front, and they should also upraid the people in the district who were making money out of the men in the trenches. As the casualty lists come through, the grim reality of war is recognised, and the people of New Zealand should co-operate to help the wounded men returning from the front. Some of the poorer districts were sending more than their quota of men, and when the wounded return, they "would not be able to support them, and so the larger and wealthier districts would be made to help. It was an easy matter for theorists to talk about a National fund, but he thought that as far as the North Island was concerned, things were reaching a finality. Th e speaker concluded by saying that “We should honorably treat the men who are spilling their blood for us.”— (Cheers).

Mr Kirkwood proposed, and Mr McNeil seconded, “That the Societies in Taranaki be affiliated into one branch.”—Carried.

Mr McNeil proposed to add “that the headquarters of tire branch be situated ac Stratford, and then there would be only one stall to be employed and so lessen the cost of administration.”

Mr McNeil, in seconding the motion, said that it did not matter where the headquarters were situated. The fewer branches, the less the fund would cost to maintain, and he did not see why the small districts should employ a secretary—it would be filtering money away.

Mr Wilson proposed as an amendment “That the matter of headquarters of the' branch be deferred for future consideration.” Seconded by Mr Dive, and carried by 15 votes to 5. On Mr Kirkwood’s motion, it was decided to alter the following clause of the memoranda to:—“A solvent branch shall be deemed a branch which at the time of the authorisation of the levy. . . . shall possess a fund

to an amount more than sufficient to cable it to grant relief and to carry on its operations for the ensuing period of two years, based upon its expenditure in permanent relief and expenses of administration during the proceeding two years or any lesser period, during which the branch may have been in existence, together with an equitable estimated provision for grants of temporary relief. Each solvent branch shall be liable to pay the levy into shall bo liable to pay the levy in aid of each depleted branch pro rata according to the amount of its funds.”

Mr Penn said he did not quite favor the idea of one branch ,one vote, he would like it to be so that the branch that did the most work would get the most votes.

Mr Kirkwood said he was in favour of the rules of the Association. The Stratford delegate would be instructed to ask for slight alterations, but would support it as a whole.

After a lengthy discussion, three slight alterations., were made to the memorandum of rules which is to be discussed at the Wellington Conference, and the following resolution was passed: “That .this meeting of delegates of Patriotic Committees of Taranaki district approves genorally of the scheme outlined hy. Mr Luke 'and others, together with' the suggestions made at this meeting.” Mr Hill said that if a central council was formed, he thought it would cost about £SOO or £6t)o ,a year to maintain.

Mr Dixon moved: “That the delegates to the Welli'npjton Conference he a committee of this conference to define the tfie various local committees?”JCarried.

On Mr Dixon’s motion, .seconded hy Mr McNeil, a hearty vote of thanks

'A'iis accorded Mr Hill for attending and explaining the various matters to the conference. A vote of thanks was also accorded Mr Wilson for acting as chairman.