PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 30 October 1914, Page 4

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

TO RELIEVE WIDOWS & ORPHANS MEETING IN WELLINGTON.

A preliminary meeting, for the purpose of organising a Patriotic Society to relieve widows and orphans of the Allied Powers now engaged in war, was held at the Central Chamber of Commerce last night. Mr. Hector N. M'Leod was voted to the chair. The Chairman briefly outlined the objects of the society as follows: — To constitute a body to be called the New Zealand Patriotip Society ; to foster sound patriotism in all its phases throughout the Dominion ; to provide a medium for expressing public opinion on patriotic subjects ; to co-operate with other bodies haying similar objects ; to assist State, civic, and public effort in connection with patriotic and relief funds, especially to alleviate the distress cause<jl to widows and children by the pi'esent war. The Chairman then requested Mr. J. Lewis, the convener of the meeting, who had had experience of the working of a society with similar objects in England, to explain its objects. Mr. Lewis stated thcit ho and others formed a Patriotic Society in Liverpool during the Boer War to look after the wives and children of soldiers and reservists while "Tommy" was fighting the battles of the Empire at the front. They were able to accomplish a good deal, and wei'e visited and complimented on their work by General Sir Redvers Buller and General Baden-Powell. After considerable discussion, the following resolutions were passed :« — "That this meeting suggests to the Government that similar legislative powers to those being secured by the Commonwealth for dealing with aliens be secured for New Zealand." "That^ this meeting is in accord with the strict measures which it understands are being adopted in connection with unauthorised and naturalised members ;>f nations, which are at war with the British Empire." "That this meeting considers that a comprehensive report upon the employment of naturalised and unpaturalised members of other nations in 'the, civil, civic, and allied services of the Dominion ehouTd be secured, and that action be taken upon the report." "That this meeting is of opinion, that the New Zealand Government should arrange to offer homes to, dependents and children of Britain and her allies ; that the Government be requested tp invite offers to take such sufferers; and that the secretary be empowered to receive names of people willing to take such sufferers." Mr. J. Lewis, at the earnest request of th<t meeting, consented to act as interim secretary, with power to arrange with Mr. E. J. Colley to act as permar manent secretary of the society. It was stated that the next public meeting would probably be held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall.