WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 9

WAR RELIEF

.- * ANNUAL'MEETING OF THE I ASSOCIATION I i His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided at the annual meeting of tho War Relief Association of AVellington, held in the Concert Chamber yesterday afternoon, pursuant to notice. Other than the members of the executive committee, there were only about half a dozen gentlemen present, and they were those who have interested themselves in the work of the association in a practical way during the year. In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet (which have already appeared), the Mayor thanked the members of the committee for the excellent work they had done for' the general community on behalf of the citizens of AVcllingtou in administering this important fund, and he paid a tribute to the Patriotic Societv for the fino result which had attended the eiForts made in raising tho bulk of tho money the association was administering. In respect to the money that had boon sent in to him. hi: thanked the Town Clerk,'who had ( assisted him and watched over tho fund. As that had been done without a penny cost, he felt that the goodwill of tho community should bo shown fo Mr. Palmer. A. great 'responsibility was involved in the'administration of the fund, which had been subscribed by the people of Wellington for the soldiers and their dependants, and not for other expenditure. In that regard he referred to the hard task Mr. Ferguson, and those with him liad in dealing with many of the claims. The chairman was of opinion that it was a mistake for all bodies to approach the Government with resolutions affecting the welfare of the soldiers. Fie thought that all such matters should'go through tho Advisory Board, which was acting in conjunction with the various patriotic societies. That weuld be much better than the spasmodic efforts of different bodies passiii" resolutions and 'forwarding them direct In the Government. After briefly reviewing the balanee-slieet, the chairman said that it was to be regretted thai, the bodies in this part of the North Island had not come together, as the consensus of opinion favoured a central control and one organisation for the district. _Wit.li the exception of generous contributions from gentlemen in the W.'iirarana, most of the money had come from the eitv of Wellington, not the district-. In Auckland it was different. There I ho sun' of £300,000 was raised, but most, of tliat_ money had been raised by bodies outside the eitv, not in the 'district, but. it showed Auckland to be in a bet- I tor nosition than AVellinglon. TTo wn« ' of the nninion that it would bo found that Wellington would have a greater number of claims to meet than any other part of New Zealand, owinu to the larger number of soldiers and their dependants concentrating here, and because of the movements of soldiers to and from Wellington. It would be found, too, that the claims would become more and more insistent than they had been in the past. He voiced high appreciation of the services that were being rendered by Mr. William Ferguson, 'as chairman of the executive, and paid tribute to tho sterling work thai: was being dono among tho soldiers' dependants by Mrs. J. B. MacEwan. Ho also mentioned the worthy services rendered by Messrs. Martin Chapman, C. Watson, W. M. Yeats, and Mr. 11. Davidson (chief account of New Zealand Railways); all of whom had helped to further the interest of the fund. (Applause) Mr. L'ukc said that notwithstanding the peace message (from rtarlin"! which had been received, he

believed that tlio Allies had a greater task in front of them than they had in the past. That message might only he a feeler to see how we felt about going on with the war, ' and ho believed that the British Government would £o on until such results had been achieved as would secure a peace for all time against German inhumanity and militarism. A great number of their boys had gone to the front, and their blood had been spilt on behalf of the King and the Empire, and before the war could end there must be guaranteed an immunity for the future from such conditions. Ho did not think they could do too much for the soldiers and the dependants, and it was the duty of every member of the community to help to the fullest extent of their powers. (Applause.) The report and balance-sheet were adooted without discussion. No other members having been nominated, Messrs. C. A. Ewen, W. Ferguson, D. M'Laren, L. M. A. Rearden, and L- 0. H. Tripp were TC-elcctcd members of the executive. ' . A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs. J. B. MacEwan for her active assistance to the association. Speaking to tho motion, Mr. Wm. Ferguson said itwas no false compliment to pass such a vote to ITrs. MacEwan, without whose tact and skill they would never have achieved the good they bad during the past twelve months. The citizens of Wellington really owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mrs. MacEwan. (Applause.) A special vote of thanks was also passed to Mr. H. Davidson for bis accountancy work. It was work ■which had saved tliem money. "In doing that work," said Mr. Ferguson, "Mr. Davidson has given a more handsome contribution to tho funds than anyone elstV, 1 • Mr. Davidson replied briefly, thanking Mr. Ferguson for the kindly things said of him. Finally, on the motion of Mr. Ferguson, a vote of thank* was passed to the Mayor for tho assistanco given to the association in acting as_ trustee, and in presiding at tho meeting. '_ MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE. At the meeting of the executive committoo which followed the annual general meeting, Mr. William Ferguson was elected chairman for. the ensuing twelve months. On the motion of Mr. C. M. Luke a. very hearty vote of thanks from the executive was passed to Mr. Ferguson for the magnificent services be had rendered during the year. Mr. .L. 0. If. Tripp was reelected vice-chairman. The committees as they stood last year were re-elected.