TAIHAPE AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

Taihape Daily Times, 23 April 1918, Page 4

TAIHAPE AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC SOCIETY.

Tne annual meeting 01 Taihape and District Patriotic Society was neid last nignt, wneu a repreaeutauye attendance «£ between 50 and 60 was present, including a goodly number oi leturned soldiers. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) presided.

The annual report of the past year's operations was read as follows: — in presenting to the Society its annual report the Cormniu.ee refers with pleasure to the increased interest in the work of the Society evidenced by the large attendance at the monthly meetings of the General Committee. During the year the Society lost the services of its Secretary,. Mr. N. E. Drayton, who has left Taihape, and the Committee desires to place on-re-cord its appreciation of the capable and tactful manner in which he carried out his duties. Since his departure the duties of the office have been ably performed by Mr. Darvill, in. .successor. The work of the Society is constantly increasing and is now almost, if not quite, sufficient to occupy the whole time of one man. For this reason Mr. Darvill ha ssignified his intention of resigning, as soon as a suitable successor can be found. The Society is also about to lose the services of its honorary treasurer, Mr. Deacon, who has been called up in the ballot. Mr. Deacon has been treasurer of the Society since its birth and its thanks are due to him for his gratuitous services. Undoubtedly the most arduous work of the Society falls upon the Returned Soldiers' Committee, the members cf which are Messrs A. James, D. Neagle and S. Powell. This committee has held numerous meetings at all hours of the day and night, and has carefully investigated 103 • applications for assistance of which 87 were, by returned soldiers. The Society has assisted soldiers' dependants with their applicatidns to the Financial Assistance Board, and returned men in their dealings with the Pensions Board and Base Records Office, and various other matters. t , Ml this work entails a very large.arjiQunt of correspondence and a. heavy, call-upon the time of the Committee,- ( During the year a small reception, and visiting committee,- consisting of. Messrs'J. P. Aldridge, R. A. Davies and ,H., D. Bond was set up. These gentlemen met soldiers on,their return to ; .,Taihape when notified in time to enable them to do so, and enquired whether^they wished for any information or assistance. In addition the Secretary sends to each returned man a letter,, asking him to make known 7 to \< the- Society his requirements. This Committee recommends that a-' lady's ' Visiting committee be appointed, as it is believed that ''such a commftte'e 7 would more readily get in touch with-the wives and other dependants of 'soldiers. The Society used its" organisation to assist the Originals Concert party on its visits to Taihape" and also to make preliminary arrangements in connection with Red Triangle Day. Although Ohakune has nominally ,amalgamated with this Society and has occasionally sent a delegate to attend the general committee meetings, it is felt that a closer cooperation between the two towns would be advantageous to soldiers and others having business with the Society. During the year the Society has received from the Rangitikei General and Co-operative Timber Company a monthly contribution of £25 to the funds of the Society, and the Committee desires to record its grateful thanks for this very substantial assistance. The balance sheet for the year presented herewith shows that £616 19s 9d has been paid out in directly assisting soldiers and their dependants, while £360 has been expended for the benefit of men actually on service, by contribution to various bodies, looking after their wel. fare. The funds of the Society, net required for immediate use, are bearing interest, the annual interest at present yielding £598, which /very materially helps to meet the ever increasing claims on the funds; nevertheless, it seems probable that, as time goes'on, a further appeal to the generosity of the public will have to be made, if the Society is to be able to continue its work. In conclusion the Committee points out that there must always be some difference ol opinion as to the management of the Society, and it cordially invites any person who can, ox- believes he can. improve the usefulness of the Society, to "become a member of the Committee and take a share in its work. The balance sheet showed that the credit balance of the Wounded Soldiers' Fund stood at £11.526 15s 4d; Local Relief Fund credit balance, £386 15s sd; Incidental Fund credit balance, £34 18s; the Belgian Relief Fund, donations received, £SO; amounts, remitted to the Government, £SO. Tn moving the adoption of the Report and Balance Sheet (which was

subject to audit), Mr. Arrowsmith said there had been a very,large incase; in the work of the Society, work that was not apparent to the public. The. bulk of the work fell on the shoulders, of the Returned Soldiers' Commiuee. The work has been systematised by the Committee. A table had been pared by which they could look up returned soldiers' statements and "complaints, and this would render work at the new Returned Soldiers* Committee much "simpler. The number- of returned men dealt with were comparatively few to what would eventually have to be dealt with, and to meet this eventuality it would be,necessary to make a further appeal to the public. The speaker made • eulogistic reference to the members' attendance on the various committees. He was pleased to see so many present that night, and it was satisfactory to know that the public was taking such a keen interest in the work of the Society. In reference to thet work of the Committee, he said the utmost secrecy was observed in dealing with soldiers' appeals for assistance. As far as the Patriotic Society was concerned, if anything was divulged it was not through the Society but by the returned soldiers themselves, "j*^ A query was voiced as to whether the assistance given to returned soldiers was over and above their pensions given by the Government.

Mr. Arrowsmith said no doubt this, was taken into consideration, but it would not influence the Society in allocating money to anyone destitute. "A returned soldier said when they got their discharge they had to fill,in a return as to the amount they.had received from any patriotic society. Mr. Arrowsmith said as far as this Society was concerned the Government had not applied to,them for any information. "Mr. Neely gave instances where, soldiers who had received relief had. the amount deducted from their pay. Mr. Arrowsmith: Probably in the instances *given the men had applied for some advances on their pay, which. had been refunded. What the Government had done did net matter to,, nor influence the local society. The. report and balance sheet w"a&. then put to the meeting and carried unanimously. The question of a ladies' visaing, committee was left to tha. incoming General Committee. The election of' officers was ; taken. Mr. Arrowsmith was unanimously and by.-acclamation .re-elected chairman. Mr. Arrowsmith, in thanking the; meeting for his re-election, thought itwas nearly time he had a rest, as. themany functions he had in his official capacity to attend made a. large drainon his time: He had done his, best,, and he supposed he had been.subjecfc to hostile criticism. ■., v . The appointment of a committeecaused a considerable amount of discussion. The general opinion was. that the remuneration was too small for the work; ' two joint secretaries were suggested; the claims for con. sideration of returned soldiers for the position were advanced. Eventually Mr. Wrightson suggested that the matter beleft in the handsof the incoming committee, Mr. Darvill to retain the position until a new secretary was appointed. This course; was embodied in a motion and carried.

For the position of treasurer, Mr. Darvill was appointed. At this stage apologies for non-at-tendance were rendered for Messrs. W. McLennan. J. Evans. Loadfer and Deacon. The following were elected as a Committee: —Messrs Neagle, James, Powell, Wrightson, Davies, Neely, Al~ dridge. Bray, Lawson, Howden, Fannin, Lenihan, McCormick, M. McLaughlan. Thurston. Emerson, Campbell, C. Gibbs, Loader, De Loree, WMcLennan, J. Evans, Shanley, "Wakeman, Stent, Candy, Bond, Hocking,, and Ward. During the election. Mr. Neely (of the Returned Soldiers' Association),, said the returned soldiers were not dissatisfied with the Society, far from it. He wanted that to be cleanly understood. Mr. Arrowsmith, addressing the new committee, pointed out the seriousness of the work the committee had to do. It was not a Joke; they were elected to do their best for the returned men and safeguard the funds. of the Patriotic Society. In reply to a question, Mr. Arrow* smith said the visiting committee's duty was to meet returned men at the train; this was at times a difficult, matter to do. as sometimes they got a wire from Auckland after the train had got down as far as Palmerston. Speaking as to the wisdom of havinga ladies' visiting committee. Jle iOftcf women had a great deal thy with a bereaved woman thanTSi clergyman could have, and they know instinctively how to ing mother or a distracted

B&6*el closing the Meeting Mr. Ar- ; TbTtifSith >said he was pleased to see • bo nLcn interest taken in the Society, and still more pleased to see so many returned soldiers present, and he wel'coined'their asistahce;'" because; af-'■'-'•fi'ter all> who could have-more sympawith the men in the firing line than the very ones who had gone the same experiences themHs. Vat was announced just' before the meeting adjourned that the sad news had been received that Private R. Eellis, son of a widely-known and highly-respected resident of Taihape, t -Wd been killed in action. ;=:■' All those piescnt stood with bowed heads \c-bile the Mayor moved the following resolution:—."That this meeting of the Patriotic Society express its deepest sympathy with the afflicted parents- at the sad news that has come through to-night." The resolution was carried in silence. The meeting then adjourned.