TAIHAPE PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 93, 18 April 1916, Page 4

TAIHAPE PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Taihape- Patriotic Committee was held last .evening, there being present: Messrs A. James (chairman), G. Wrightson, W. J. H. McCormick, D. Neagle, S. Powell, G. Bray, and L. Deacon (Secretary). The Secretary advised that the sum of £2B 18/6 had been received from the Taihape- Athletic Club, being the net proceeds of the gathering held on New Year’s Day The Club desired that the amount should be divided equally between the Local Relief and the Wounded Soldiers’ Funds.

The Secretary was instructed to write a letter thanking the Club for their efforts. A letter was received from the Wellington District members of the Advisory Board, stating that word had been received that the War Contingent Association required some £3OOO a month for the comfort of sick,, -wounded, and convalescent soldiers outside the ordinary necessities that were being supplied by the , Governmnt. The High Commissioner had reported that £ISOO per month -would be required to be spent oh bur soldiers in England and £ISOO at places outside England. The Patriotic ' Committees were being asked to pay the’amount and the Wellington district’s amount was £(500 monthly and 'of thi s Tdrliape would be asked to send £25 monthly/'

The Chairman said that so far as the money was concerned he did not think there should be any question of

Mr. Wrightson moved that the Society provide the £25 for the first month, :

Mr. Bray thought that the matter should be held over till a fuller, meeting. Other members considered the call was a very urgent one, and it was decided to pay the first month’s subscription. Mr. James said that dealing with the matter, itself, he thought the meeting should acknowledge the letter and concur with the' allotment as set out by the Advisory Board. Mr. Bray considered the matter should be i held over so that members who we're absent would have a chance to give their opinions on it.

Mr, James said he did not think there -was any need for hesitation at all. Any member who was not present, he thought, should abide by the decision of that meeting. Messrs. Powell and Wrightson said, they were strongly in favour of making the donation a permanent one. Mr. Powell then moved that the donation be' a permanent one and Mr. Wrightson seonded the motion. Mr. James said the High Commissioner wanted to know straight away what monies were available.

Mr. Bray said lie was quite agreeable to the first £25 being paid over, as it was absolutely necessary, but he would like to see the full Committee carry it. H knew it was wanted. He would move a$ an amendment that the first month’s £25 be paid and that the question of the further amounts be held over til? next meeting.

Mr. Neagle said if they gave assurance to pay £25 per month, Wellington could advise the High Commissioner straight away. If they held it over, it might hamper them. The motion was carried.

Two appeals were received, one from the Victoria League, of Auckland, for a Russian Day for Russian prisoners interned in Germany; and the other on behalf of the Mayor of Auckland’s Serbian Relief Fund.

It Avas decided to refer the appeals for Russian Day and the 1 Serbian War Relief Fund to the Advisory Board in accordance with the suggestions made at the conference of Societies.