PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 62, 13 March 1919, Page 8

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

SOLDIERS' INTERESTS. THE PROPOSED CLUB. A meeting of the executive of the 'Auckland provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association was held yesterday afterni.on, the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunconl presiding. A letter was received from Mr. P. J. L. Kenny, secretary of the V.M.0.A.. who wrote asking when the portion ot the premise- now used as a soldiers' chih was likely )u he vacated. His Hoard was desirous of leaving the matter in the hands of the Patriotic As-1 eociatton. trie reason for writing being' that the date of vacation of the! premises was not made clear in the! agreement. j Mr. A. S. Bnnkait -aid the agreementexpired on April :!. % j It wa.- :i*olved to ask Tor an cxlen-| eioii "i six months, and To notify tne j V.M.C.A. that urr.iugenients for relinquishing the building were at present under consideration. j

A committee comprising Messrs. A. S. Bankait, X. A. Xalhan, C. Rhodes, EPhelan. and A. G. l.unn was act up to confer with the Auckland Women"s Patriotic League with regard u> tlie Soldiers' Club proposals. •soldier* , hostel. Mrs. V. M. yon Stunner, lion, secretary of the Soldiers" Hostel Fund, •wrote asking for a donation towards tin; fnml. She pointed out that £038 had been spent on the hostel in alterations and about CiHJO on furniture. For sonic month- past. it. was stated, the accommodation ha.l been insufficient for nil >.vho required it. *ome r>o returned, men ivero in residence there. It «"ilB proposed to start a campaign to raise; £12.000 u> be used iiist in liquidatingj a guarantee to the bank, second in purchasing the whole or part of the freehold of t!ic hor-tel property, and thint in building an extension to the premises! mid furnishing it. j It wa- agreed to receive a deputation) from the Women's Mutual Aid Society with reference to the request .\t the next meeting of the executive. REPATRIATION BOARD. The secretary of the Central Repatriation Board (Mr. -I. D. Cray). Wellington, wrote expressing regret that the' Auckland Patriotic Association had| decided not to nominate a representative on the Hoard. A letter expressing regret a f the executive's decision was; n!so rciive.l from Mr. R. K. Fenton, ot the Discharged Soldiera' Employment, Ktirean. He exprewil the opinion thatj there would pos.-ihly be a duplication of ■work in the employment branch, and suggested that it would be for the benefit of the returned men if t ; ie Association would reconsider its decision.

After a brit'f dineiwsion, it was decided to reply that tlip repatriation otfi:er hail ini'iferre I with the Association, ■Setween wii'.-.-li and the Repatriation Board the utmost co-operation obtained. SKUKF TO SOLDIERS. A statement was made by the chairman that the Soldiers' Information Bureau would lie re-opened on Monday ander Mr. T. Loug. a returned soldier. The Claims Board reported that since the last meeting 4.50 cases hail been dealt with and £2600 had been disbursed. A rt" .irt from tlio Relief Committee slat i that 101 case- had been dealt ■with and £340 disbursed.