GROPING IN THE DARK.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 144, 18 June 1915, Page 3

GROPING IN THE DARK.

_ PROBLEM OF THE WOUNDED. AUCKLAND COMMITTEE WITHOUT information; What was intended to be flic main subject of the agenda—the local provision for tbe care of the wounded when they arrive—required very little discussion when the executive committee of the Provincial Hospital Ship and War Relief Association met at the 'Town Hall yesterday afternoon, under the chairmanship of the .Mayor (.Mr. ,J. 11. Guiißon), for the reason that the committee had no definite information. In the course of a statement witli regard to the organisation of the province for the collection of further moneys oil behalf of tin- fund, the Mayor expressed the opinion that the lime had arrive,l when the liov. rniiient should make a statement of its intentions in regard to the reception and care of tiie wounded and the responsibilities of local committees. He hud endeavoured without success to obtain n definite statement from the Minister, and the (iovcrnment had obligations that it. would be improper for the committee lo forestall. At a later stage his Worship pointed out that the position of the Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard was equally unsatisfactory, and tiie chairman ('.Mr. Co vie) had'wired the Minister asking for a definite statement. Mr. W. Npragg observed thai it was manifest that the present head of the Defence Department was overworked. In the course of the ensuing discussion, Mr. A. (1. Dunn dwelt upon the necessity of endeavouring to raise £100.000 locally, and of the thorough organisation of the province in order that souices that had not been tapped could be appealed to. Mr. 11. Horton urged that the committee should stay its hand until the Government brought down its pension scheme. The Government would probably say that the means a! its disposal would not permit of a very generous scheme, and then would be the proper time to make a strong appeal to the public. Other members urge] that the committee should be in a position to launch its further appeal, and ultimately tlic Mayor and Messrs. [turns. Rhodes. V'ook. and Lamer were appointed a committee to take the matter in hand. At the last meeting of the committee, when the Men's Supplies Committee was dissolved, consideration of the position of the Ladies' Supplies Committee was deferred because of the possibility of im furl her services being required. After discus-s-ion. it was decided to dissolve the committee, the M.ivor suggesting that the Patriotic League should be asked to appoint :i genera] ladies' committee. Miss I-:. Melville raised the question of the provision for the wounded in Kgypt .ml the desirability of sending a further grunt for this purpose. I: w.istat, I that .1-0 had already been sent to Kgypt nl Lady Godley"s lepics:. and th,. .-ie-es:ion ....,-. made that , ach of the f.iir large ecu; res should send __.">O. I'ltitnntelv the matter was referred to the Patriotic t onimit lee. Mi-s Wright and Mr. C It. Monro were added to the committee to repre sent school interest-.