BRITAIN AND BELGIUM RELIEF FUND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8965, 12 October 1914, Page 6

BRITAIN AND BELGIUM RELIEF FUND.

MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE.

A meeting of the Ashburton '. Oommittee of the Groat Britain and Belgium Relief Fund 'wixa held in the A. and P. Association rooms on Saturday afternoon. Mr J. Cairns presided. ; The honorary secretary (Mr J. B. 'Christian)- reported that the sum in hand and promised now'amounted to £1374 10s 3d, and that subscriptions had been coming in freely. A letter was received from the Courty Council to the effect that it could not legally strike a special rate in aid of the fund but that it had passed a resolution, recommending the Govcmmont to vote a substantial- sum.—Mr J. Studholmo expressed the opinion that the. County Council could have struck a rate and devoted a part of it to the Great Britain and Belgium Relief Fund. Ho thought the meeting, might'pass a similar resolution to that adopted by the County Comic.il, and moved that the committee nlraidy appointed in. Ashburton to receive and

collect subscriptions for the assistance of the fund, is strongly of opinion that the Government should • supplement private subscriptions by making a substantial and immediate grant towards this fund on account or the Dominion as a whole.—The motion was seconded by Mr J. R. Brown and carried. ; ..;.■: Members present expressed the opinion that a part of the sum m hand should be sent Home at an early date., and. on the motion^ of Mr Studholmo. the secretary was instructed. to write to the secretary of the Christehurch Fund to ascertain what the Chnst'ohurch committee intended doing, and stating that the Ashburton committee was prepared to forward a 'substantial sum whenever required- , ■ ti Mr Brown said that he thought a big patriotic demonstration might bo nivt ii! hsvd in As?-.burton. He wns sure this would be a success, and thn.t a good sum of money might be raised >thereby.