PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1918, Page 2

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE.

I ANNUAL REPORT. Following is the annual report and statement of receipts and expenditure of the New Plymouth Patriotic Committee for the twelve mouths ended' August 31, 1018: The executive has pleasure in presenting its report and hon. treasurer's statement of accounts for the fourth year of the committee's ; operations. Tho outstanding features of that statement are a falling off iu receipts from donations, consequent chiefly-upon no appeal to tho public having beon made during the past year, and through substantial amounts being disbursed to other bodies engaged in war work. The Pierrots have now in hand a further effort for augmenting tho fast diminishing local funds, . and it is confidently expected that the usual generous responso, as In the past, will be given by the public. „ Sick and Wounded Fund.—The administrative work is steadily Increasing, with every prospect of Us continuance, especially when larger drafts of man return from activo service. Cases for relief and temporary assistance are dealt with by the Mayor and deputy chairman, In tho ing terests of efficiency and prompt attention to I the wants of the returned men and their do--8 pendents, thus ensuring uniformity of policy, I and attending to the correspondence involving | reciprocal assistance with other centres. The i sum of £O7O 0s 3d has been disbursed by them, chiefly In small amounts, during the year just ended. These figures give some idea of the work that has been carried on, and we are pleased £p say, appreciated by those looking to . tho Patriotic Committee for guldanco and assistance. Numerous applications for loans to acquire land and to purchase stock and provide furniture, have been dealt with during the period ' under review, and In nearly every caso the re- , suit has been satisfactory to the applicant Temporary assistance Is also arranged for soldiers and their dependents until such Uino as their allotments and allowances are arranged and become payable. Advice and help are extended to wives, widows and widowed mothers la obtaining grants from the Financial Assist- : ance Board, and In lodging claims for pension, • Mr. J. Clarke's resignation as a member of the committee was received with regret, that gentleman having taken a keen interest in Its proceedings. During the past year death has removed another member, in the person of Mr, : H. Goodacre. The Mayoress (Mrs. C. H. Burgess) very kindly accepted appointment as a '. member of the inimittee. The work ot the committee requires no vin- - dlcation; its elasticity and tho immediate help - afforded applicants imparts to it its principal ' advantages. With the prolongation of the war ■ the need for continued patriotic effort becomes : greater, and the unabated support and active Interest of all members 13 necessary to commend public endorsement of its work to the benefit of both soldiers and their dependents for ' whom the funds are subscribed. BALANCE-SHEET. Receipts.—Balance brought forward, £503 Ss ' 8d; Wounded Soldiers' Fund, £4O Is 4d; , B YiI.C.A, £l4l 16s 3d; New Zealand Insurance Co. (balance), £ll6 13s 4d; Pierrots Committee (balance), £185; Taranakl Jockey Club, ' to Mt. Egmont), £25; Soldiers' comforts, £1; proportion proceeds exhibition war picture, £4 ' Ss lOd; wheat committee (balance), £lO5 6s Id. < Expenditure.—Y.M.CA, £303 2s lid; Pa- ; lestlne Belief Fund, £ls; appeal for Scottish - Women's Hospital Fund, £lO 10s; tent, etc., : for Invalided soldiers at Mt. Egmont, £2B lis M; comforts for transports, £1£0; telephone, ' £7 0s 3d; Church Army Hut Fund, £75; - Y.M.CA.. Soldiers' Institute at Trentham, £55; : Maoris in France. £SO; Hed Cross Society, £29 3s 4d; New Plymouth Women's Patriotic Com- ' mittee, £2O 3s 4d; Anzac Bay expenses, £10; - Salvation Army War Fund, £ 100;. Returned Soldiers' Association Fund, £SO; motor hire ' tat returned sohliors, £1 ISs; fruit for drafts, ' £ll I3s 6d; advertising, £4 153; New Zea- i landers In Egypt, £4l 15s 7d; Catholic Fedoratlou Field Service Fund, £SO; rent of room ; from Soldiers' Club, £2O; regimental funds, ] £65; fit men's fund, £2O 17s; Taranakl War -i Ileliuf Association, £4B Is lid: subscription to ' Chronicler, 13s; subscription to Camp Record, J £2; nursing expenses (soldier's wife), £7; - allowance to soldier's family, £2 14s; printing - and stationery, £5 10s sd; cheque book, 12s; balance, £144 6s lid; total, £1378 lis 6d. ', The annual mcetiuir, which was to have been 1 held on Tuesday night, was postponed, as ow- - lug to tho very wet weather there was only • oao person prosout (a lady), who was not a j member of the committee. Tho meeting will be i held noxt Tuesday at tho Soldiers' Club, at 8 i p.uL. and it is hoped there will bo a largo at- ' tendance of the public.