RETURNED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 29, 29 October 1918, Page 4

RETURNED SOLDIERS

THE APPEAL FOB FUNDS,

A meeting called to dismiss the affairs oil the Wellington lletunied Soldiers' Clubhouse Society was held in the room of tiie club last night, 'rlie Mayor of Wellington (llr. J. i J . Luke, Ai.l'.) preliidwi. Tiio attendance, of citizens aud returned soldiers was small.

The Mayor, said that he felt sure the 'attendance did not measure iho extent of lao city's sympathy tor the .ippeal aibout to be"made for funds.for Ihe club. Apyonls for patriotic purposes i.ad been following one another , rather quickly in Wellington, but it appeared there would be a pause now until the sukliers' appeal was made on December ti next. It was proposed to have a street collection and a feto in the Basin Iteerve. A sum of ,£2OOO was required* for the returned soldiers, and ho felt strongly, that this money ought to be forthcoming in order that the returned soldiers' organisation 'might-be kept in full operation for the benefit of the men who had come buck and the men who had still to come. The club was of very (treat value in connection with returning drafts, and its importance was going to increase during the demobilisation period, when large bodies of troops would be passing through Wellington. The meeting ought to initiate ■a campaign that would produce the required £im before the end cf the year. Jlr. J. I). Harper suggested that the various patriotic bodies in Wellington should be asked to give the returned soldiers a week of their activity. It was two years since the Returned Soldiers' Association had made any i.ppeal for funds, and lie considered '.hat/ the sum asked' for was moderate. Air. J. Macintosh said the suggestion was a good one. The sura that the club required was not a large one, but it would bo sufficient to enitblo tho club to continue ■ its excellent work until ' 1920. That fact would weigh with the public. He felt sure the money would be forth-, coming, "but effective organisation would bo required in order to put the appeal before the public. Mr. Harper said the sports bodies and the commercial travellers were prepared to assist. The more assistance the ■returned soldiers got the better. Mr. A. Gray said that ne had been requested to state that the Women's National Reserve would be glad to assist. After some further discussion it was decided that those present should fornv a committee for the purpose of raising the required ,£2OOO, and that a meeting should be arranged r.t which the organisations whose assistance was α-eqiured should be represented. The Mayor was appointed' chairman of the committee. ■. It was also decided that the next meeting' should be held at 4.30 p.m. on Friday afternoon next. . Mr. H. J. Stott was ap'pomted secretary. •