ELTHAM NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1916, Page 2

ELTHAM NOTES.

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE MEETING. (.From Our Own Correspondent.) Eltham, Yesterday. On Wednesday evening, the annual ntwting of the, Patriotic Committee was held here. The Mayor (Mr. B. Dive) picsided over a moderate attendance.

The annual report explained that owing to the Government fixing the audit period for the end of June the balances referred to in the report were for a nine months period only, and since that date a considerable amount had been received, including a sum of £3IG from the Mangatoki Dairy Company. Although the Wounded Soldiers' Funds were not yet seriously encroached upon, the demands would increase, and it was not :.t all certain that the total provincial funds, amounting to about £40,000 would be sufficient to fulfil all demands as the time went on. It was quite possible that another effort on the part of TaranaW would have to be made to increase the amount considerably. The Patriotic Fund receipts were £523 12s 41, of which £137 was for the Serbian 1: lief Fund, and £IOO 6s 4d for Sailors and their Dependent's Fund. These amounts, as well as £129 4s 8d collected for'the French Red Cross Fund, had been forwarded to the proper authorities. The Wounded Soldiers' Fund receipts for the period were £3254 3s 7d. This amount included £2948 Is 6d received from the carnival fund. Relief to the extent of £O3 0s 8d had been given, and the balance had been transferred to the Taranaki War Relief Association The Belgian Relief Fund receipts amounted to £2B 7s Sd.

In speaking to the report, Mr. T. B. Crump referred to the work of the War Relief Association. He said that the Association worked on information suppled by the local committees, which also advised the executive of the Association upon granting relief to men in their district-:. The local committees were allowed to grant relief up to £lO in urgent cases. So far, the Kaponga and Pihama Committees were, the only ones which had not joined the Association, and he understood that these two committees r/ere contemplating affiliation. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., referred to the smallness of the amounts raised. He did not tli'iik £40,000 was a large sum for Taranaki. Should further appeals be made it was those who had already responded liberally who would be called upon to pt.y again. The report was adopt' d. - The election of the new Committee resulti d as follows: Messrs. B. Dive, T. B. Crump, D. Syme, G. Cooper, ]<;, Parrott, L. Grimstoiic, C. A. Wilkinson) M.P., A. A. Stewart and J. L. Campbell, with power to add. Messrs. Curtis ar.,l r,c:isc, delegates from the Mangatoki Committee, retain their seats on the jirw Committee.

Votes of thanks were passed to the out-going committee. At. a subsequent meeting of the newlyelecved Committee, Mr. T~. B. Crump was elected chairman, Mr. D. Syme secretary, Mr. L. Grhnstone treasurer, Mr. T. B. Crump delegate to the War Belief Association.

GENERATE, V, iih regard to the appeal by the British Red Cross for funds, the' local committee favored October 21st as the day for a collection, and they have decided to -suggest this date to the Hawera and Stratford committees, with a view to lidding the collection in the three centres on the same day. Mr. J. B. Sim has received word from England that one of his nephews, LanceOiporal 'J'. Sim, haf been killoil irt action. Another nephew, Sergt. J. Sim, has been reported wounded and missing. The two brothers were in the Gordon Highlanders.