TAIHAPE PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 21 August 1917, Page 4

TAIHAPE PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

The following nusiness, in addition to that already reported, took place at the last meeting of the Patriotic Society. In their report to t% General Committee the Executive stated tha(3li» they had granted to the'wife of a soldier, at present serving in Egypt, the. sum of £lO to enable her to pay her medical practitioner's account. This unfortunate woman has contracted a serious disease since her husband left for the front and she is having a hard struggle to keep herself and child in addition to paying for necessary 'medical atention etc., The Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board has been approached on her behalf and it is hoped it will consent to pay her rent and insurance premiumsThis case will receive further attention when the result of her application to the Assistance Board is known.

An application for assistance from the widow of a soldier and an application for a loan from a returned soldier were postponed, pending the receipt of further necessary detailswhich had been asked for. The report from the Returned Sol-, diers' Committee mentioned cases which had been dealt with by that Committee during the past month.

A returned soldier, who was granted a sum of £lO by the Society sometime ago, voluntarily refunded the whole amount as he stated that he was now in a position to repay it and wished to do so in. order that the money might be used imjaffording relief to some other needy case. The meeting received this statement with applause.

Three returned single "men were granted money, to supplement the 30s granted to them by the 1 ment, to enable them to obTa'ih necessary civilian clothng. Suitable employment obtained for two men. ' l ' i ■

A married returned soldier has been granted the sum of '£s per \ month, to augment his : pension grant, until such-time 1 as his health will permit -him to work. This man's wife is also very ill and is at present unable to do anything. They are both receiving treatment at Rotorua and it is to be hoped that they will speedily, regain their "health Another returned soldier applied for a loan to enable him to obtain necessary furniture to furnish twovrooms for himself, wife and childf* This matter was referred to the General Committee for their consideration and it was ultimately decided to authorise the Returned Soldiers' Committee to make an advance at their discretion taking security "for the loan.

A letter was drafted to the Hon. Minister of Defence for a widow who has already lost two sons on active service and whose husband had died whilst her three sons were v at the front. The Minister was asked if the third son could be discharged under these sad circumstances. The request has been granted by .uc Minister. Of the other cases dealt 'with two were referred to other societies and two were granted small sums to .enable them to proceed to their destinations. The -non. treasurer's report showed that the funds controlled by - the Society totalled £11,934 lis ! 2d. The case was mentioned of a man in poor circumstances whose son has been killed at the front. The matter was referred to the Exexcutive for their attention. Some discussion took place (regarding the report of the Committeie which was set up at a public meeting held some two years ago, to look into the matter of the formation, of a Returned Soldiers' Association in Taihape. Some members thought that the report has been handed to this Society. It was ultimately decid« ed to hold the matter over to the next meeting when the report under discussion could be tabled.