TAIHAPE AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Taihape Daily Times, 15 April 1919, Page 4

TAIHAPE AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

COMMITTEE MEETING. A meeting of the General Committee of the above society was in the Supper Room of the Town Hall last night His Worship the Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) occupied the chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. J. Evans and James.. Three applications for the prosition of secretary were received Messrs. Haydou, Ryan and Leighton, and it was decided to recommend the last named for the general meeting.

The annual report and balance sheet wore adopted.

The Returned Soldiers’ Sub-Com-mittee, setting out how various matters in connection with returned soldiers and their dependents had been dealt with, was read and adopted. Mr, Howden, tor the visiting committee, made a verbal report, in which it was stated that at the present time there were six returned soldiers in the hospital.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Women s Working Club for the gift of 1000 cigarettes to the boys in the Hospital. GENERAL MEETING. The animal general meeting* of the Society was then held, the same members being present.

The report and balance sheet (sub- " ject to audit) were read and adopted. The balance sheet showed that under the Wounded and Returned Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Fund the sum I of £675 15/11 had been advanced to ■ Soldiers’ and dependents; donations to Y.M.C.A., £3O; to Advisory Board, £Io2 10/; salaries and general expenses, £lsl 16/6; leaving a credit balance of £11,312 3/6. The credit balance at April ’-fit, wfes £11,394 7/6; donations, etc., £I2S 1/9; interest on mortgage, fixed deI posits and loan to Taihape Borough Council £634 17/6; loans to soldiers refunded, £B9 16/6; refunded from other societies, £75 2/6 —Total £12,322 5/10. The Local Relief Fund showed a credit balance of £356 14/6 The report stated: In presenting the third /annual report of the opperations of the Society and the balance-sheet for the past year, the Committee con- ~ graulate s the fekeiety on the satis- V factory position disclosed. The wisdom of placing the major part of the Society's fund on first, mortgage, is shown by the increased income received. An analysis of the balance sheet shows, that after payment to or on acount of soldiers of the sum of £.''sS 5/11 :■ <1 tne absorption of £.’.51 16/G tn talaUes and general ex-M penses, the balance to the credit of the* Society’s main fund, is only £B2 4/3 less than at the beginning of tlic ancial year. This is chieffly due to the sura of £634 17/6 having been earned for interest. The smaller separate funds of the Society are also in a satisfactory state. During the past year, it was deemed advisable to amend the rules of the society so as to enlarge its objects, which were found to he inconveniently restricted, and to provide for a small membership subscription of no less than five shillings (5/) per annum. This subscription is again due and the Committee desires to point out to the gecnral public, that if unable to attend the Society’s meetings etc., they can at least assist the returned men by becoming finaucial r»omberS of the Society. The Committee believes that every resident of the town and district should have a membership card, which can be obtained from the secretary. The usually monthly meetings of the Society have been duly held (except in November last, which lapsed owing to the epidemic) and have been well attended. The Returned Soldiers’ Sub-Committee has carefuly considered numerous applications, in all 144, which have been dealt;, with as follows .--Grants made loif" Referred to Government Departments 1 11, Applications declined 29; total 144. and in addition to this work, assistance has been given to soldiers and dependants in their dealings with the Pensions Board and other Government Departments. The Society also assisted the Red Triangle, Red Jersey and other appeals. An innovation was made during the year by associating ladies, with members of the visiting committee. In connection with this committee the work of Mr, Howden deserves the special thanks of the Society. The secretarial work of the society has been well and faithfully done by Mr. Darvill but he finds he can no longer devote the necessary time to the Society’s work and has placed his resignation in the hands of your Executive Committee and it has been accepted with much regret. It therefore becomes the duty of this meeting to appoint his successor: The committee draws the attention of the society to the Repatriation Department of the Government, which Department it is considered will in time absorb many of the duties hitherto discharged by the Soldife Sub-Committee and may be part of a scheme to obtain the transfer to the War Funds Office or to- the large So-

Ciety’s in the four ..centres of the funds of all the smaller societies. Finally your committee trusts that the operations of the society during the coming year may be conducted with the same harmony and success, as during the year just past and vith benefit to whom it originally came into existence. The election of officers was then proceeded with, Mr. Geo. Wrightson being unanimously elected chairman. Mr. Haydon was elected secretary, the majority of those present favouring giving a returned soldier the preflprence^ *Mr G. E. Darvill offered to act as treasurer in an honorary capacity, and he was appointed, amidst applause.

Committee: Messrs. Bray, Gibbs, Neagle, Powell, Lenihan, Howden, Loader, M. McLaughlan, Thurston and Aldridge. Emerson, Wrightson, Stent McCormack,. Shute, Arrowsnrith, and James.

Mr Geo. Wrightson, the newly elected chairman, then took the chair. The following were rc-elccted an Executive Committee: Messrs. Arrowsmith, Bray, and James, with the exofficio members.

A vote was tendered to the Execu-

tive for past services, which. Mr Arspeaking for his fellowmemhcrs, duly acknowledged. 'A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Arrowsmith was carried by acclamation. for which the recipient returned thanks. Mr Howdcn was appointed organiser

for the visiting committee, to which

;were added the names cf Messrs Aldand McCormick. The committee was empowered to spend a sum ef money, the amount to be left to their discretion, for procuring necessities and making provision for the comfort and amusement of returned soldiers at the hospital. Mr. E. Loader offered to attend gratuitously to the tonsorial and shaving requirements or soldier patients at the institution. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.