STRATFORD PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 18, 19 August 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

ANNUAL REPORT AND BAL-ANCE-SHEET. The following report and balancesheet will bo presented to the annual public patriotic; meeting in the Borough Council Chambers on Tuesday, 22nd inst., at 2.30 p.m., when His Worship (chairman of the general committee) will preside: Your Committee have to report that the work carried out during the year has been very satisfactory, and that a very considerable sura of money has been donated and raised in various ways for the several funds. During the year 32 meetings of the Executive Committee were held, with the following attendance of members: —W. P. Kirkwood 31, J. W. McMillan 27, A. F. Grant 26, J. W. Boon 23, J. Masters 23, # T. H. Penn 21, D. J. Malone (part term) 15, R. Dingle 12, A.. Meredith 8, Rev. Howard (part, term) 4. The General Committee has been called together several times during the year, and have faithfully carried out the duties allotted. The Ladies’ Committee ably assisted our Committee in many ways, and ■were successful in raising a considerable sum for the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund.

; ; Throughout the year the country committees have worked harmoniously with our organisation, materially assisted the funds with money collected in the district. I .j The Stratford Scottish Society did i Splendid work and handed over a iJ very handsome amount, to our Comi Tiiittee’ for the Wounded Soldiers’ . iFund. -I The' ‘ ‘Fete of Nations” organisation from New Plymouth, generously assisted the efforts of our Committee, by staging a performance in the Stratford Town Hall, which was the 'means of adding an appreciable sum to our main fund> Mrs N. Fulton generously donated ' the section of land’ she”.won in .’the-: ' Society raffle, the proceeds ‘going to swell the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. < The motor car donated to the New ‘ Plymouth and Stratford Committees fof the' Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, realised over £342 10s Gd in Stratford by the sale of tickets. Mr King’s (Staff materially assisted in the sale of ‘ .tickets by their efforts at the Hawcra j Sinter Show, the company controlling j,he Show having kindly granted pernmsslon for the sale of tickets. The [.proceeds amounted to over ■ ; £Bdo.' "

/ .The Gift Auction Stock Sale, and the Social organised by the Stratfdi'd Auctioneers were very- Successfully carried out ; ‘the Auction being re sponsible for a large "sum of money being raised, while the social returned a creditable amount.

“Soldiers' Day,” held in Stratford, under the auspices of our Committee, and ably organised By members of the Committee ’and townspeople, was a great Success in every way, and added ft very material addition to the Funds. The Stratford A. and P. Association very kindly placed the Show Grounds at the disposal ’of the Committee for this function. The Committee desire to thank the ladies, who in several cases of personal sacrifice, gave their services, in various capacities in connection with “Soldiers' Day.”

Mr S. A. Mann very kindly donated two sections of land in Stratford, the proceeds to go to the “Wounded Soldiers’ Fund,” , “ Your Committee desire to' thank the Borough Council for the, use of an office in the new Municipal Building. The Anzac Minstrels augmented the Funds by giving a number of concerts at several centres in the

country. ....... The dairying industry • in the district has very substantially assisted the Funds, the following companies having contributed to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund: Stratford Dairy Company, Midhirst, Cardiff, Ngaore ami Tututawa. Your Committee hope to get further contributions during the coming year from 'the companies named, also from other companies in the district. Since last year’s balance-sheet was presented, and up to June 30th last, the sum of £5097 Os 8d has been con-

tributed to the various Funds. Since then wo have collected to date, and have promised, approximately, £2OOO. Special funds were collected as follows: Red Cross £338 Pis, Sailors’ Relief Fund, just on £3OO. Our Committee, together with other Patriotic Committees throughout Taranaki, is now affiliated with the Taranaki Provincial War Relief Association, which body will control and administer funds raised in Taranaki for the Wounded Soldiers. This Fund is in the neighbourhood of £36,000. As the Committees throughout the provincial district will continue to act as collecting bodies for the Association, it is most desirable that the efforts of our Committee should no ho relaxed, but should continue steadily in the work undertaken heretofore, and not cease until the end of the war. Recruiting in the Stratford district has been very satisfactory, chc district maintaining; its position with other districts throughout Taranaki, which set a high standard for the Dominion. Balance-sheet for period ending Juno 30th, 1916: By balance brought forward from July 23rd, £1344 10s Bid; subscriptions, £5997 0s 2d. Total, £7341 10s 10id. To Red Cross Fund, £338 12s Cd; Comforts Fund (Department Internal Affairs), £235; Comforts, Y.M.C.A., £lls 13s; Bed equipment 2nd. Hospital Ship, £4O 10s 9d; Artificial teeth for recruits, £106; Relief - to Soldiers and Dependents, £lO2 2s lOd; Conference expenses (3), £ls, Donations to Contingents’ Bands, £ls ss; Clothing and sand hag material, £6 7s lOd; Office rent, furniture, advertising and general expenses, £47 16s 9)d; balance, cash book, £5319 2s Bd, £6319 2s Bd.~ Total, £7341 lOs.lOid.

By Balance carried forward, £6319 2s Bd. " Position of various Funds and Accounts. Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, account £4BBI 13s 3d, deposit £IOOO, £5884 13s 3d; Patriotic Fund for general purposes, £lB9 13s sd; Machine Gun Fund, £8 13s | 4d,; Sailors’ Relief £96 J7a 6d.— I Total, £6319 2s Bd. ■ 1 ‘ The balance-sheet was certify as being correct by Mr William Power.