PATRIOTIC FUND COMMITTEE

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11750, 26 November 1903, Page 5

PATRIOTIC FUND COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Patriotio Fund Committee was held yesterday. Present— Hon. C. Louitaon (chairman), Canon Knbwks, Dr, Mickle, iiewa J. Ferguson, W. Reeoe, end H. B. Smith (secretary);

The Chairman referred to the formation of the reUlreed trooper*' committee, and stated that particrtlare of twelve cases had been forwarded by ; it, and were receiving consideration. »t present* by the Patriotic Committee. Hβ also reported his action regarding the ttatemente made jn Psriia- ■■ rn«nt to the effect that 'the - Christclrarch committee had funds in hand, and tvas refusing to pay out n. ainglo penny. He had vigorously denied, the t interment. Referring to the Bill passed hwt eeteion, dealing with patriotic funds, he had be?u instrumental in getting , the unto on which it rfiotild come iuto operation pa«tponed till January, 1905. He explained the- provisions of tlw Act, and pointed cut that it lav with the committees of the funds to tttke action in calling the subscribm together to deride , how the,, *n»i plus of the fund was to be.dusposed of ivUen all known cases had been relieved. Reporting on the work of the committee, the chairman stated that* aheut J3l3Oiind*bc«n*gnintocl to about twenty ippliesAtw between July last and the present, month. Soms of the latest' gnuits mode were to mci. wended for assistance by the frbopers' committ«e.

Regarding applicants who bad:rocejT«d ■ assistance, the chairman eaid if they required further relief tliey oould apply again. He else* suggested* that laeer the committee should go through the list of the oases in which temporals. relief had been graated, and make permanent grants in casw requiring such. < . Several application; were forwarded without any, "wdidiV certifi«aCf»» and Mx'feirgiison suggested that no application should bo considered -enlesa accompanied bj , tnch a oertiflcnte. Dr. Miiikkv said b*. did not think any doctor would elitrge tot each » wrtlflrtit-a. A trooper of the Tenth Contingent was granted £5; an application from a TimMu trooper of the Ninth Contingent win deferred for further infoiin«rion; a. Blenbeiai troiiptr of the Seventh Ctmtingent was advised to apply to the Blenheim committo* ; a Wetlrajrton applicant was informed that the committee had so many local coses of a serious. cha?!»c*er before thorn th;>; they could do nothing for hm. In the cas? of a, trooper who asfceel for £38 lo>to pay a boarding-house bill, it was decided'not to make any grunt, as tlie- applicant was in receipt of asi>i:Un<» from the Government. In a Lytcelton ea?o it" was decided to ascertain if the applicant w»* totally incapacitated. A Pieton applicant was informed that the committee OoifW nut assist him, hi? cast) being on*, for the consideration of the Government. Accounts to the amount of i>2 2s were passed for payment.