PATRIOTIC WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1915, Page 3

PATRIOTIC WORK.

GOVERNMENT AND THE FUNDS. CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. A meeting of the Patriotic Committee was held yesterday afternon. Present: Mr. J. E. Wilson (chairman), the Mayor (Mr. C. 11. Burgess), Messrs. J. Paton, J. S. S. Medley, J. R, Hill, W. C Weston, W. A. Collis, C. !•:. Bellringer, G. Carter, W. J. Chancy. V. C. J Bellringer, H. Goodacre, J. Clarke, T. C. List, L. A. Nolan, Rev. A. B. Chappell, Rev. F. Hales, Adjutant Home, and Captain Allen. An apology for absence was received from the Rev. A. H. Colvile. A telegram was received from the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, stating .that a conference of representatives of Patriotic Committee was to be held at Wellington on Friday to discuss with the Miniscrs interested the relative responsibilities of the Government, and the societies to the wounded and si'ek soldiers. The chairman said that in his opinion the stand which the Taranaki committees should take—and no doubt they would take it—was that the funds which they had in hand for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents should in no way be employed to take the place of the pensions which tlic Government will provide under the Pensions Act. These funds had been raised entirely with this idea in view, for the pensions scheme was a hard and fast scheme, which could not work equitably in many cases. The funds which the committee had at its disposal were to be used to supplement the pensions, and not to take the plai-e of the pensions. The funds were to be used to give where the committee considered help was necessary. He moved "That in the opinion of this committee the funds raised for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents should supplement, and should not be a substitute for the pensions."—This resolution was carried and the Mayor was appointed to represent the committee at the conference.

GENERAL. The chairman announced that Mr. C. Carter had accepted the office of vicepresident. It was decided to meet every second Tuesday at the Town Hall at 7.30 p.m. Mr. Goodacre gave notice of motion that the committee, at its next meeting, consider the question of insuring men going to the war. The chairman and Messrs. ,T. R. Hill. W. A. Collis, H. Goodacre, W. J. Chancy, and Adjutant Heme were appointed a sub-committee to deal with claims for relief from returned soldiers. It was decided to ask the Mayoress to appoint a sub-committee of the Ladies' 'Patriotic Committee to work in conjunction with the merf's sub-committee. Mr. W. A. Collis reported that two taxi-drivers, Messrs. Ward and Gibson, had offered the free use of their motorcars to the committee when required, and also for the use of invalided soldiers, whom the doctor might consider would benefit from motor trips. The offer was accepted with thanks. The chairman outlined the work done at the conference of Taranaki Patriotic Committee representatives and the result of the deliberations and, on his motion, it was decided that the New '■Plymouth Committee should .become a member of the Taranaki War Relief Association. The chairman was appointed the committee's representative.