WOMEN’S WORKING CLUB.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 January 1918, Page 4

WOMEN’S WORKING CLUB.

PUBLIC MEETING

ASSISTANCE URGENTLY WANTED

There was a small attendance at the public meeting last night to consider the question of financially assisting the Taihape Women’s Working Club to carry on their good work for another period.

Apologies were received from Mrs. Hunter (Hihitahi), Rev. McDonald, ,T. Evans, and J. R. Cuuninghame. Complete sympathy with the movement was expressed by the absentees. His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. L. ; Arrowsmith) occupied the chair, and ; in introducing the objects of the meeting, said the small attendance was attributable to the weather and the short notice, not to lack of interest in the Women’s Working Club. Ke had a deal of experience in functions i for patriotic objects, and the attendances at meetings had invariably been disappointing, but when it came to doing anything every effort for a patriotic object had been successful. The Women’s Working Club, like all similar bodies, was getting short of funds to carry on. The last effort of the Club had resulted in providing 'sufficient funds to enable it to carry out its work to the present time. But the Club had considerably extended their operations, and had sent parcels to every boy at tbe front. This entailed great expense, and it was inevitable that the Club was running short of funds. The object of the meeting was devise some means of replenishing these funds. He said the Y.M.C.'A. were holding a Red Triangle Day about the 15th March, and he mentioned this fact so that a,ny arrangements made would not clash with this function. He referred in sympathetic terms to the good work the Club was doing, and said he had that evening perused with pleasure some of the appreciative letters the Club had received from the boys who had received parcels from the Taihape Women’s Working Club. Ho asked for suggestions from those present, as to the best method of raising funds to enable the good work to be continued. Mr Munro said he believed in the old-fashicned way of getting donations direct from people. The amounts received could be acknowledged through the paper. The object was undoubtedly a good one, and if they appealed direct to the people for donations they would get full value for what they collected, and would save the considerable expenses entailed by functions in other directions. Reverting to the work done by the Taihape Women’s Working Club, the speaker said 3000 parcels, costing from 7/6 to 10/ apiece, had been s-snt to the boys at the front. Half the recipients "had sent letters'"and postcards acknowledging receipt, of parcels; the other half could be accounted for by the re-: cipients being too apathetic to write. Some of the parcels sent last year had reached the addressee this year, having followed the hoys even to Palestine

Mr Collinson endorsed Mr Munro’s remarks about direct application for donations, and with regard to the parcels, the receipt was a reminder to the boys that Taibape people had not forgotten them. Mr Dunbar said last year the despatch of parcels had cost about ,£ISOO, and this year it would am'ount to quite that sum. He was in favour of allocating the territory into .districts, and allowing each district to decide how it was to raise the money, which would bo paid into a central fund. The districts could be organised and controlled from one central organisation.

Mr Munro repeated his opinion that any other way than direct giving would be too costly. Mrs Plummer was afraid that £ISOO would not be raised hy direct giving.

Mrs Shute said direct giving would necessitate authorised collector. Anyone who had the interest of the boys at the front at heart would give willingly. Anyhow, it was worth a trial, and if the scheme was not successful they could could call another meeting and try another plan. Mr Arrowsmith was afraid Mr Munro would be disappointed. In any case they should appeal for a specified amount.

Mr Munro was sanguine of the success of his idea, and gave instances of specific amounts being collected by a direct appeal. After some discussion it was decided that a direct appeal be made for £ISOO for the funds of the Women’s Working Club, and that a committee be appointed to sub-divide and organise the district into sections for the Purpose of obtaining the money. An amendment similar in outline but differing in detail was lost by 7 to 6.

The following committee was then appointed: Mesdames Plummer, Boyd, and Shute, and Messrs Evans, Collinson, Munro, Moloney, Neagle,

and Dunbar, with power to add to the number. Mrs Shute announced that Mr Wheeler had donated £ll-Mthe price realised by the sale of a horse. (Applause). Mr Arowsmith, fly, few sympathetic words, said he it oped their efforts, would be crowned with complete suc-

cess.

A vote of thanks to the chair ter-*

minated the meeting,