WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 April 1918, Page 3

WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting was hfl,l ~t Stratford yesterday. Present: Messrs \\. 1\ Kirkwocd (Stratford; in the chair t. Iv riellnnger (New Plymouth), J w' W infield (Jn.irlewocd,, V. W. \Oin-; m (North Tn.vanahi), A. C Washer (Farmers' Union), H. Mills (Ilawera), T B Crump (Eltham), J. Stevenson iM.v naia).

Wanganui Association reported that a soldier who had been receiving a <n'ant of fl per week for three months had now secured employment at, .1:5 per week, and the association did not consider further assistance was'required. Kjrmont Patriotic League notified that Mr. I!. W. McNeill had bee,, appointed representative to the association

Ln.ponffa Patriotic Committee notifi-d .that (hey would consider the question of transferrins their wounded soldiers' fund to the association when holding their animal meeting iext mo->th.

Hie secretary of the. Association notihcl delegates that loans of £2OO to two soldiers and to the mother of another had been attended to.

The Au.-klnnd War Association notified thai a man there in receipt of assistance had now been able to take up yvork, and that the Taranaki grant of 3<s fid per week would not now be required.

An application for a loan of £2OO to .take up a business in North Taranaki was reviewed. The North Taranaki and New Plymouth delegates both reported favorably on the abilty and character of applicant.—Sum granted on usual condi-, tions, final payments to he made within four years.

On the application of Mr. Bellringer tlie mother of a soldier was granted £3O loan to meet liabilities. He said it was a deserving case, the association being sympathetic. G. H. Bullard, Commissioner of Crown Lands, reported that there were 23 discharged soldiers holding Crown leases in this district aggregating 7973 acres. At the end of the next month the Croydon settlement of seven sections, comprising 032 acres, will be opened for soldiers, and two months hence- 22 scctious. aggregatin;; !M»55 acres, will be availableReceived.

An application was made by a returned soldier for a grant of £l5O to re-sow section. He had gone to the front and on returning had endeavored to carry on, but the section had been swept by fire, and he would be glad of assistance.

\ Mr. Atkinson said he had intimate knowledge of the man's position. The family were pioneers and intenselr patriotic The applicant had had a brother killed at the front, and wag him-

ficlf deserving of encouragement. He ! thought they should make the grant. Mr. Uellringer said his ' sympathies were with the applicant. It' was an emergency case, as if they delayed the matter it would become too late for sowing. I On the motion of Messrs Atkinson and Stevenson the npnlieat'on was granted. T.e .Advison |-io;ivd notiTcJ that the .■dnH-i-".- resolution had been passed by - bi.f.j-d v.illi ro'.ay.l to carters' dc- ■ : '"ots: ''That (he hoard is of opinion " ".- a genera' i r'ucvple no ' relief ■ lie granted to t' e dependents ot' i -«■■'..ers o r of •■ nudei-'oing imp nnient for ac\il or militare crime subject to the risht of patriotic societies

1 give relief should special circumstances require, and that societies be requested to accept this resolution as a commendation from the board."— Eeceived. Some discussion ensued over the request of a soldier in' Southland for a grant to enable him to visit Australia. The man. before ' enlistment, had been m Taranaki for nine months,. working for four or five months in a. cheese faction. He had returned with bad eyesight and would like to visit relatives'. My. Stevenson said the man was of good character. Mr. Atkir.fon said the man might by visiting Australia stay with relatives and regain his health.

The secretary read further correspondence stating that applicant had intended to take up permanent residence. Mr. Atkinson moved: "That the matter be referred back to the Southland association for advice, favorable or otherwise. An application for £1(M? for meeting expenses in connection with takino- up land by a returned soldier tvas introduced ny Mr Crump, who related the circumstances in which applicant was placed. The Kltham delegate strongly recommended the applicationMr. Stevenson said that speaking generally the men who were fortunate in : drawing these sections for soldiers were in a very good position compared with other soldiers. The association had to remember that the men possessed the money ginms at a low rate of interest, and the goodwill of these .farms was a great consideration. He was not referring to the application brought forward hv Mr. Crump. Mr. Bellringcr said the man who «ot | the land and the loan had to be a rej turned soldier. Mr. Stevenson agreed, hut he wondered I:t tiie War Association was'to help those j who were so fortunate as to have a fair | 'lacking or those who were in absolute I need. The chairman said they were there to help all applying for assistance as far m funds pn<l c-cmnstances permit. Mr. Crump's application was deferred. I Mr Atkinson desired to know if it I was not _ possible to draw interest on money ly:ng m hank on current account. •The association was holding a fair amount of money, gathered for various patriotic purposes, j n the bank, and the aggregate, spread over Xo U - Zealand, must amount to several thousands He thonght they should endeavor to make this earn interest, and moved: "That * >c advisory board interview the bank 'managers to make allowances at hank i.'iu'.s on current account under £ioo in anv one month.''—Carried. The advisory board' notified that it mnn.cations from Home indicated that y.h:K there arc ample funds available -or side and wounded men, there is a -reat shortage of fund, for the benefit of fit men. Tho board desired that sooiet.es should cor.tr.lnto ,t3OOO to the >ew Zealand War Contingent Assooia>on to he used at their discretion, for the benefit ot men who are not sick or wounded, contentions, on the lm=is ot population percentage, to be .is follows--."ck!a,d £730, Cisborue £bo, Taranafc •C •■,.,, Lawkc's Bay £lls. Wellington. US; Marlborough £4S, Xelson £3O £3AO, Southland £ ITS.—Received, J-ho advisory board nouilM, -,..,4. u was desttoM „f cstab'.wVis? ■» common '•ma of a y Car tr . provide regimental funds fo f a n Xew Zoa , and sq Y 'Hers. It was suggested that, instead of the societies making monthly contribut'ens, the Kinds should be established bv lI.K'o payments during the year of Taranaki's proportion' being

The hoard further advised that until tire common fund is established the »x----istmg i'rrangciuents should be continued Kcecived. Both remits from the board will be considered at the annual meeting. A motion expressing appreciation of the efiorts of the Stratford district in collecting &i-m for the Wounded Soldiers lund was carried. A similar vote was passed to the dnglowood committee ior their efforts. The secretary reported that the receipts since last meetng totalled £51?8 fe id, including £2;500 from Stratford Patriotic Committee, £047 Is from Pilinma, £,'!42 .Is 3d from Eltham. £4lO lis lid from Hawera. The bank balance at April 1 was £2121 0s 7d, lh: Crump's application for a grant of £1 per week to a returned soldier | suffering from shell shock was granted for a further twelve weeks. !