NEW PLYMOUTH PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1917, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

PUBLIC MEETING. The annual meeting of the New 'Plymouth Patriotic Committee was held last evening, the Mayor (Mr. C. 11. Burgess) being in the chair. There was only a fair attendance of the public. J ANNUAL REPORT, The acting-chairman, Mr. W. .T. Chaney, read the following annual report:— ' During the past year two special efforts were made to augment the local patriotic fund and we are pleased to say both were eminently successful, thus reflecting great credit on all who so willingly brought about so satisfactory a result. The first movement was towards raising money to provide comforts for our men at the front, and the other to increase the fast dwindling amount used in providing comforts for men in camp, on transports, and for general patriotic purposes, apart altogether from grants and loans to returned men, those on leave of absence, and those dependent upon them, the sick and wounded fund being specially raised for meeting" such demands.

Up to date fifty-one applications for assistance have been dealt with locally by the chairman and deputy chairman, in addition they have acted as agents for the discharged soldiers' office, disbursed amounts granted to wives and soldiers by the Tarana»ki War Relief and other associations throughout the Dominion, also received allotments for certain men on active service, thus acting in the capacity of trustees and rendering assistance almost daily to men and their dependents, regarding allotments, delayed warrants, pensions, and other matters of considerable importance to those cerned. The establishment of an office to deal with this work and giving a regular daily attendance from 11 a.m. to noon has justified the small expenditure in the | way of rent and stationery, the convenience being largely availed of and [evidently much appreciated by the men and those interested in their welfare.

Statements showing receipts and payments since the last annual meeting have been prepared and will be read by the honorary treasurers of the New Plymouth patriotic fund and the Poor in Belgium, Serbia and Montenegro Relief Fund. WHEAT COMMITTEE, The monthly meetings throughout the year have been regularly attended by a large percentage of the committee, the various matters brought before them receiving full and careful consideration. BALANCE SHEET. The following statement of the Belgian, Servian, and Montenegrin Funds was submitted:— RECEPIT& '£ s d To balance forward .. .. 31 19 4 To contributions . „ . 531 12 3 £363 11 7 EXPENDITURE. Remitted to 'Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs for transmission to London .. .. 54S 0 0 Stationery 10 0 Balance at National Bank N.Z. 15 10 7

, £563 11 7 Mr. J. Pafjon (hon. treasurer) said that although the financial year ended March 31, he had drawn up, at the request of the chairman, a statement for the period up to September 30, as follows: RECEIPTS. £ s. d. Balance at Sept. 30, 1916 .. 511 8 1 Interest on deposits 290 0 8 Deposits withdrawn 6350 0 0 Y.M.C.A. Fund 227 3 0 .Patriotic Fund— Comforts committee 1170 0 0 N.Z. Insurance Co.' second instalment 116 13 4 Pierrots' committee 1785 0 0 Donation 216 0 0 '£11,283 19 & EXPENDITURE. £ s. d. Taranaki War Relief Assn. 7662 18 5 S T .P. Patriotic Fund 1530 0 0 Y.M.C.A 786'10 2 Salvation Army 150 0 0 Blind soldiers and sailors .. 100 0 0 Balance Christmas Comforts Fund 65 17 10 Comforts for troopships ... 55 0 0 Church Army Fund 50 0 0 Methodist Church 50 0 0 C.E.M.S 50 0 0 Returned Soldiers' Fund .. 50 0 0 Soldiers' Trentham Club ... 25 0 0 Red Cross Committee 10 0 0 Advertising, printing and stationery 28 5 3 Sundries 58 3 7

£10,671 15 3 There was, accordingly, a credit balance of £612 3s lid, Mr. W. Ambury presented the report of the Harvest, Labor and Wheat-grow-ing Committee, which showed the net result of the season's effort was £ISG. The committee suggested that £9l 15s 7d should be divided — £SO for comforts for Maoris at the front, and the balance to the Y.M.C.A. (per Mr. Donald McDiarmid) to provide comforts for the New Zealanders in Egypt. The committee gave thanks to all helpers (especially Maoris), and intimated that it had not been successful in obtaining land for wheat this season. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS. The Mayor, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, expressed thanks to Mr. Chanel for the assistance he had rendered. The Taranaki War Relief Association had considerably curtailed the committee's work. He referred to the raising of funds during the year by the Pierrots' Day and Comforts Week, and its allocation; also to granting £ls per month for comforts on troopships. He paid a tribute to the unselfish and whole-hearted work being done by the Red Cross Society, and the Women's (Patriotic Committee. Referring to the, War Relief Association, he said that of its funds, amounting to about £45,000, the New Plymouth district had contributed nearly £IO,OOO. The Association was doing good work for the returned. soldier. A proposal had been made that more funds should be raised,., but he felt the question hinged on: What is to be the policy of patriotic societies after the war? He had always looked upon the funds of patriotic societies as supplementary only to Gov- , eminent expenditure, and not in any | te raliszs *uefc' WVk.% am. as* I

on it was impossible for the Government to provide the men with much more llian necessities, or to provide fully for the returned men. When the war was over, however, there should be no reason why the Government should not be in a position to provide all that was required. The most effective way was to raise all money required by taxation. Knell, then, would pay his fair share. lie thanked all who had so generously assisted, and in conclusion said: "I would ask all to remember that the sacrifices made by us at home are as nothing compared with those made by the thousands of our young men who have left homes and friends, and all that is dear to them, to fight for us and for freedom, or. as the Canadian soldier has put it, 'Fighting for peace, for the equal rights of the weak, both for men and nations.' This soldier also said: 'lf it be my lot to die, I am satisfied.' This is the spirit that is carrying our men through their heavy Let those of us who stay at home be animated by the same spirit and determination." Mr. W. J. Chaney seconded the motion, which was carried without further discussion. ELECTION OP COMMITTEE. Mr. Gibson moved that the new committee be elected from representatives of the various societies in the town doing patriotic work. Mr. T. C. List regarded the proposal as quite impracticable., remarking that nearly every society which was carrying out patriotic work was already represented. Mr. Gibson agreed to withdraw the motion. .

The election of committee members for the coming year resulted as follows.: The Mayor' (Mr. C. H. Burgess), Messrs J. R. Hill, L. A. Nolan, C. E. Bellringer, J. Paton, C. Carter, W. J. Chaney, J. Clarke, T. C. List, J. MeLeod. L. M. Monteath, H. Goodacre, W. A. Collis, Rev W. A. Sinclair, and R. Brookman. . GENERAL. Mr. Carter moved a vote of thanks to the chairman and deputy-chairman, for their untiring efforts. New Plymouth was under a deep debt of gratitude to the Mayor and Mr. Chaney for devoting so much of their time to the work of the association. The Mayor said he was deeply grate. f>il for the assistance rendered by Mr. Chaney, whose aid had very greatly contributed to the good work of the committee. Mr. Chaney was able to give an hour or two of his time each day solely to patriotic work, a thing which few men were in a position to do. Mr. Chaney said it was only his way of "doing his bit," and he was very glad to see that it was appreciated. Mr Hill asked the meeting to pass a very hearty vote'bf thanks to the Mayoress and the Ladies' Committee, for the strenuous atid successful work they had done during the past year. The vote was carried enthusiastically.

In acknowledging, the Mayoress said the success M the work of the Ladies' Committee depended very much upon those in charge of the association's financial affairs, tlnd who had provided the funds essential for -the carrying out of the work. 'Mrs. Burgess mentioned several instances ofboys making a special point in their letters of parcels received from the New Plymouth Committee. The committee had been able to despatch within the last month 550 parcels to France, and between 150 and lfiO to Egypt. At the instance of Mr Nolan, a vote of thanks was passed to the Wheat Committee, and a vote of thanks was also accorded to the New Plvmouth delegates to the War Relief Association, whose services were eulogised.