STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1917, Page 3

STRATFORD.

WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION. ! Stratford, Aug. 8.. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki, War Relief Association was held at Stratford to-dav. Present: Messrs W.\ P. Kirkwood" (Stratford), in the chair; C. E. Bcllrmger (New Plymouth), W. Stevenson (Manaia), F. Mills (Hawera), R. J. Dunn (Auroa), Larcomb (Patca). J.W.. Winfield (lnglewood), I<\ W. Atkinsun (North Taranaki League), f;iid L. B. Grimstone (Elthuui).

The reports from committees on the proposal to hold an art union with a view to building up the. Association's funds wero made by delegates. Mr. Atkinson said his League was prepared to back up any movement that was made in the direction of building up the Association's funds, hut desired that all the committees should be unanimous on tlio matter. Mr. Mills stated that Hawera believed It was preferable to make a straight-out appeal. Again, the Government should bo urged to make further and more substantial grants. The Hawera people seemed to believe that the Asociation had money in hand, and the excuse was made that the Association was not making full use of it.. Again, an. art union did not appeal to some as the best means of raising funds. Personally he did not endorse that attitude.

Mr. L. B. Grimstone thought they' could do a great deal more in the direction of raising funds. He related how the women were still accomplishing great work in several directions. Mr. Stevenson said, they were lending the money to the wounded soldiers as investments. He believed the Government should increase the grants. Mr. Bellringer said that New Plymouth did not view the proposal in a favorable light. Conditions may he better later on, but at the present juncture ho considered it hardly desirable to launch an appeal. In reply to a query by Mr. Atkinson, the Hawera delegate suggested a straight-out appeal to the public. The chairman reminded delegates that a fair proportion of the money raised in Taranaki had been secured by way of ert union. He desired that they should decide at the meeting what they should do. So far, 310 invalided men had returned to Taranaki. The Association must look ahead; the main body would be returning, and their expenditure would naturally considerably increase in the near future.

Mr. Bellringer said the principle involved was not that the Association should he the primary body to andertake the work. Its duty was to supplement the Government efforts. The members •were there to support or as»ist the immediate requirements of the men. The Government was climbing down in various directions, and would probably, before long, show the men in need of assistance more sympathy.

In reply to Mr. Atkinson, the secretary gave some details of the financial side of the Association. He stated that ihey had recently granted £3OOO, and were practically committed to £OOOO, as a further £IOOO is to be issued, and they had promised £IOOO to another applicant, and £SOO had been also promised, so it would be safe to place the sum at £6OOO. At the end of Marcli the Wounded Soldiers' fund stood at £34,586, and since then the Hawera Committee had handed in £3600. Other ♦mounts made the total £45,000 at the end of June. Between March and July wuonded soldiers' dependents had been

paid £139, whilst a. further £SO had been paid in the nature of an irrecoverabls grunt. At the olosn of tiie discussion Mr Mills moved: "That the proposal to hold an art union in aid of the Association's funds bo deferred sine die. the matter to be brought up again when desired." Seconded by Mr. Bellringer and carried. Mr. J. \V. Winfield reported on an application for assistance. The two guarantors named were entirely suitable t* the Association, and applicant would also receive assitance from his brother, who was allowing applicant free grazing for a period. Applicant was steady and anxious to work.—A grant of £SOO was jnade. The chairman reported that the application of" a man for £SOO had been granted and instructions isiued to place the amount at his disposal. It was resolved to refund the Rotorua JMri* : " ; i( i i , W oi. cW. " 'is, etc.". liaki men, n.rue,and £3 10s to lie v. bridge .Society for a similar case. At thi* stage Mr. Atkinson remarked that until they iiad something definite to go upon, those applicants whose cases had been considered that'morning, should be notified that such loans will only be granted where the committee is satisfied that tliey are absolutely i- cessary for the applicants' welfare, ' ast two meeting "-ey lia <id •" ion funds •• W^ I this k. .H..J;. matter to the Finance Committee.

The Wellington Association reported on a Taranaki man (married) who was an out-patient at the Wellington Hospital, renting a cottage and paying l-2s per week rent. They recommended that the man be paid £l'a week for a period of three months, pending finding suitable employment.—Acceded to. Tli* sum" of £2O was granted to a | returned soldier (main body) on the usual conditions.

W. P. Page, Salvation Army, applied to tire Association for a monthly grant to the Army's sick and wounded fund for comforts for tlie men in hospital at the front and at Home, etc. Since the cessation of Jfew Zealand's contribution of £3OOO monthly to the High Commissioner, a large number of societies had decided to continue their quota, and had divided it between tlie Salvation Army and the V.M.f'.A. for administration. The need still continued pressing. He desired jt should be perfectly clear that this appeal was distinctly for the sick and woun<l«d only. Mr. Stevenson said the constant appeals might be a bit troublesome at times, and men were complaining of being '•hit up" day after day by various organisations. Mr. Dunn believed it would be a good tMnz if they could collect on one fund and'nwke grants to each in proportion to its importance. Mr. Mills eulogised the work of the V,M.C.A. and the Salvation Army, and {thought they ought to receive eyery , wsistMieg, I Mr, tfeljringer said they should encoiVage thc-stT funds. They (New Plymouth) sent away £I2OO last year. Thev shoulu »°* bo in a hurr . v <* r - v up the work of the various bodies interested in this work. Anything that was being done in the way of helping thee who were sufTering for us should be encouraged to get ahead. He was satisfied the Association would help them. The chairman said; that the i.M.O.A. had auplietl to tlie Advisory Board for £3OOO per month. Pe quite recognised the good work that was being done by both ib» S»lv*tipn AiW *nd Y..M.C.A.,

hut they had to call a halt somewhere. A motion by the speaker that the Association cannot accedo to the request was then carried..

Tho secretary reported that there were ttb present six men on the discharged soldiers' information list; two were not ready for employment; one was awaiting the land ballot to the i'arkea' estate, Mid threo have not troubled to communicate with the representative in their district. Tho bank balance at the end of July was £O2O 7s 3d, and at the Post Office Savings Bank £llss]' 2s -id. Elthain Committee had forwarded .£l5O, and lnglewood £lB Ss lid. Three hundred and sixteen men had returned to Taranaki district since October 2(1, 11)15; 177 cases had been dealt with up to June 30, 1917, the percentage of cases dealt with to returned men being 50 per cent. After the transaction of routine business the Association adjourned. A. AND P. CONCERT AND DANCE.

The concert and dance held in the showgrounds tea rooms last night proved a great success, quite eclipsing the auliupations of the promoters. A very excellent programme was submitted, encores being numerous. dsThe following contributed: —Rogers orchestra, of three instruments; Mr. E. S. Walker (song); Miss E. Gangster (song); Miss Fyfe (song); Miss Rogers (violin solo); Miss Fieldes (sonj); Mrs. Massey (song); Mr. Walters (song); Mr H. LI. Betts (song); quartette by Messrs Betts (2), North and Tissiman; Mr. Frank Ranford comic songs and dramatic recitation); J. Andrews (song and dance). Mention must be made, of the accompanists, Miss Rogers and Messrs Frank and Tom Ranford. All were quite- capable of the onerous duties entrusted to tliem, and of great assistance to the vocalists. At the close of the entertainment Mr. Boon thanked the performers for their assistance and also explained the improvements effected by the association in the present building. The hall was then cleared for dancing, after light refresh' menta had been handed round, and to the excellent music by Miss Robson (piano), Mr. F.. Foley (cornet) and Mr. Lister (violin), the floor was continuously crowded by delighted dancers, who werv well capered for by the M.'sC, Messrs A. Iluggett and Jans. GENERAL. There arc many Stratfordians who will learn with regret that recent information in the Daily .News conveys that Private Wallace Tomlinson, after being reported missing, is now reported as dead and buried by the Germans. During his stay in Stratford Private Tomlinson was employed as assistant engineer to the Public W T orks Department, and just before leaving for the front had been transferred to the Opunake railway works at Kapuni. He was quite a young man, and deservedly popular. His parents reside at Cobden. Greymouth. The Anzac Minstrels intend showing at Mangatoki on the '2'2nd instant. The annual meeting of the Lowgarth Dairy Factory will be held to-morrow.