NAVY LEAGUE WAR FUND APPEAL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 7

NAVY LEAGUE WAR FUND APPEAL.

For the dependants of men of tho Royal Navy, and Mercantile Marine temporarily attached, who have been lost or incapacitated during tho war.

Although the date of closing of this appeal h;is been extended to the end of January next, I would again ask those who have net contributed to the above fund to forward their donation as earl} - as possible. A locter received from the Navy League, London, states that money is urgently needed. Donations sent to' the office of the .Navy League, 119 Worcester street, Christclmrcii, will be gratefully acknowledged. ALEX. BOYLE. President. Canterbury (X.Z.) Branch of the Jsaw League. £ p. d. Amount previously acknowledged ... ... 5913 o 7 Canterbury Automobile Association ... ... 20 0 0 G.W.B. -> 2 0 Late Timaru Ladies' branch of tlio Navy League ... ~j 1 0 Sarah l>oak (Omihi) ... 25 0 0 Dr. and Mrs J. C. Pairman 5 5 0 Geo. Rutherford (Springbank) ... ... jO 0 0 Mrs W. Stokes (sale of uolls) 10 0 John Conual (New Brighton) ... ... 4 4 0 Edgar F. Stead ... ... 20 0 0 1 £9045 17 7 DONATION SOUGHT FROM CITY COUNCIL.

A deputation from the Navy Leaguo War Fund appeal waited on the City Council last night with reforenco to obtaining a grant for tho dependants of men in the Royal Navy. Mr A. Boyle, chairman of the Canterbury branch of the League, said that there was not a shadow of a doubt that the British Navy had won tho war. (Hear, hoar.) The fact that the war was over, however," did not mean that our debt to the men of the navy and their dependants was over. For all tho great protection it had received from tho Navy the Dominion bad given very little; as a matter of fact, its contribution had amounted to about 5s per head, as against at least £1 for the population of Great Britain. Mr Boyle concluded by asking for the City Council's hearty support of tho League appeal, and for a substantial subscription.

Mr F. W. Johnston strongly supported Mr Boyle. Mr Boyle, in reply to a question, said that £20,000 was aimed at in Canter-bui-y, and £100,000 for tho whole Dominion, a sum which, if raised, would be considerably more in proportion than that given by any other part of the Empire.

When the deputation withdrew, a lengthy discussion took place as to whether or not the matter should be referred to the Finance Committee. Various councillors supported this procedure, but others thought that the matter should be settled in open Council, Cr. Beanland proposing that a straight-out grant of £250 should be given to tho Navy League. Cr. Howard supported the amendment, stating that the Council knew just as much about the finances as the Finance. Committee did. Altogether too much work was handed on to committees.

Cr. Flesher said that whatever cases came before the Council, they should bo treated on equitable lines. If such matters as these were not referred to the Finance Committee, what was the uso of such a body. Cr. Wells said she thought that at £250 we would be paying very cheaply for the soenrity wo derived from the Navy. Such a sum was altogether too paltry.

The Mayor said that for that very reason he would like to seo tho matter go to the Finance Committee.

Cr. Beanland snid that if he were certain that tho Finance Committee would decide on the sum of £250 or more he would hare no objection to the matter being referred to tho committee.

Eventually the motion to refer tho subject to the committee was carried.