PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1918, Page 6

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee was held last night. There were present: Mr. C. H. Burgess (chairman), Mr. J. w'chainey (deputy-chairman), Ven. Archdeacon Evans, Rev. W A. Sinclair, Messrs C. E. Bellringer, C. Carter, R. J. Hill, C. Sadler, T Paton (hon. treasurer), and L. M. Monteath (hon. secretary). An apology, for absence was received from Mrs- C. H. Burgess. An intimation was received from the War Relief Association of Wellington respecting the increased allowance to discharged soldiers for mufti outfit. A letter \va3 also received from the Taranaki War Relief Association in respect to the matter of loans for assisting returned soldiers about to marry, stating that the maximum amount to be advanced for furniture was £75. In referring Lo the balance-sheet, the chairman said the balance to the committee's credit was now reduced to £169, and it became necessary to make an appeal to the public for funds. The committee vas committed now to payments amounting to about £SO per month, and that would probably be increased in the future, seeing that the War Relief Association had decided that its funds could only be used for hejpiug wounded soldiers, and not for the men in the firing line. Therefore, he did not think they could go on any further without making an appeal. No such appeal had been made for a year, when the Pierrots Taised £IBOO, of which £BOO was allocated to the Women's Patriotic Committee The committee could, therej fore, go to the public with confidence, especially in view of the great satisfaction expressed by those amongst whom the money was spent. The committee was constantly receiving letters of acknowledgment from men at the front for what was done. This was especially the case with Tegard to the work of the "Women's Committee. The Pierrots were planning a big effort, and it was hoped to raise a sum of £3OOO. The appeal would be launched on the 20th of the month, and it was hoped to complete i( in about eight weeks. He felt sure that the public could be relied upon to support the effort. It was decided to ask the Taranaki War Relief Association to supply patriotic committees with copies of their articles of association. Accounts amounting to £1 3s were passed for payment. The statement of the treasurer showed that the receipts for the month had been £1 14s, and the expenditure £3O 12s 2d. The balances were:—Patriotic Fund, £159 16s Id; hire of motor-car account, £25