New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 69, 20 November 1915, Page 5

New Zealand

FIRST OFFENDERS. \ , Per Press Association. Wellington, November 19. The Trades and Labor Council is urging upon the Minister of Justice a proposal to set tree first offending prisoners who desire to go to the front. It is stated that there are 200 or 300 prisoners of this class in New Zealand, and many of them had offered to enlist if they had an opportunity. It was contended by the speakers that if the request was acceded to, it would give such men an opportunity' ! to ; retrieve their Characters, and at the same time to do something' for the country. WAR FUNDS. ' ■. ! { s'l 1 > 1 I i j . .. *1 ; | j -H —T . i » Wellington, November 19. At a xneetiug of the ,\Vay I‘junds Council a discussion' arose with regard io the inequality of patriotic funds• raised in different provincial districts, pad tliQijcase, of Westland was quoted. It was stated that in that district a large percentage of men had gone to the front, but the patriotic fund was very small, by reason of the comparative lack of wealth in that part of the country. , It wa's resolved, on the motion of Mr, J. Roberts, C.M.G. (i)unedin), seconded by Mr J. P- Luke (Wellington), that air appeal be made to the various patriotic societies throughout New Zealand to assist. weaker funds by sending to the National W ar Funds Council such sums of money as they feel disposed to allot for the purpose, Ait order to enable the Council to help iiiy district where the local fund is not strong enough to provide fyr wounded and invalided soldiers and their dependents.

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON. Wellington, November 19. . A conference between representatives of patriotic societies throughout New Zealand and Mr Bussell (Internal Affairs), Mr Allen (Defence), and Mr Herdman (Discharged Soldiers’ Information Department) was being held to-day. Mr Bussell said that patriotic societies had raised a total of £892,154, of which £272,000 was for wounded soldiers, £358,000 for British, Belgian and other relief funds, and £262,000 for other funds. Since then other amounts had been subscribed, till, at the present, the funds totalled over £1,000,000. Taking the funds as raised by districts the amounts were as follows: —Auckland £128,239 (apart from the pressent effort to raise £250,000), Taranaki £22,180, Hawke’s Bay £46,906 (now being increased), Marlborough £14,324, Nelson £20,120, Westland £595, Canterbury £145.374, Otago £300,433, Southland £28,000, Wellington £185.480.

WOUNDED SOLDIERS FUND. £ s. d. Previously acknowledged 2122 12 3 S. H. Wicksteed ... 5 0 0 £2127 12 :l