NAVY LEAGUE'S BARGE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15158, 23 December 1914, Page 9

NAVY LEAGUE'S BARGE.

QUESTION OF DIVERTING FUND

At a special perioral meeting of iho Canterbury branch of tho Navy League, Leld last evening, to.consider the proposal to make a of £50 from tho traininp; barge fund towards providing Christmas comforts for the crow of H.M.S. Xcvv' Zealand. Jlr Bevan-Bro-rni approached tho subject of making a vote from the money for tho barge towards tho relief of tho Belgian sufferers by asking the chairman (Mr J. J. Dougall) if it was eompotent for tlie meeting to consider other business. Proceeding, Mr Bevan-Brown said that it was upon his conscience that there should bo sucli tuffering amongst the peoplo of Belgium, and moreeonld I>o done b\y them-to alleviate it. The money to the credit of the barge fund had been set aside against a great day. It was to train lade for that great day when Britain would bo opposed by . tJio might of Germany. Now that day had .-arrived.- Already ono sum had been spent out of this money on n purpose other than that for which it was raised. Ho was that much of an optimist as to believe, when once this great war -was settled, that thex-o would be at least 100 years of peacs.. Surely then there* would bo no immediate- call upon the money for some time after tho Avar. He believed that tho most pract.cal use for it at the present moment was to be found in helping the Belgians. They had it from reliablo authorities that peoplo wero poinK to literally etarvo in Belgium tbie winter. A grant from the fund had been made to provide the men of the battleship with more comforts—a very ■worthy object in itself, but he held that the cause of Belgium's starving peasants should receive a share as well. He moved that £100 bo voted from tho fund to relieve distress in Belgium, and be handed over to the American Relief Fund to distribute.

Tho chairman drew Mr Bovau-Brown's attention to the fact that the meeting was called to consider a special business, and while the motion had his entire sympathy, lie did not think they could deal with it at that meeting

After somo discussion it was deeded to call a special meeting for early in January, and to make Mr BevanBrown's motion the special business for that meeting. Mr Bevan-Brown aave notice of motion in terms of his resolution, with the deletion of the referenco to/the source of distribution.