FUNDS FOR WAR RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 92, 18 April 1916, Page 8

FUNDS FOR WAR RELIEF

WAIRARAPA'S RECORD,

£165,000 FROM A POPULATION OF

18,878.

A recent article in The Post (headed "National or Parochial?"), in reference to the administration of patriotic funds was not intended to refer specially to any particular district. • The purpose was to show that the needs of the soldiers, as New Zealandei's, could be best considered by a national board than by a number of independent district executives. There is said to be an impression among some of the people in the Wairarapa that The Post had their locality in mind, when the word "parochial" was used, but such a deduction is a mistake.

A list of facts given to The Post shows the splendid spirit of generosity that has been noticeable throughout the Wairarapa since the war began.

In a single day Wairarapa subscribed over £800 for the Kiosk Hospital, Trentham (a national work).

Wairarapa provided £1200 for a soldiera' .hall (another national enterprise) at the Featherston Camp. An appeal by the Wairarapa Patriotic Society to similar bodies in other districts produced only £25 (given by Hawkes Bay).

For the projected Anzac Club (national), Featherston, veteran settlers of the Wairarapa have provided £8000.

By the medium of Mr. John M'Masters's gift for the " Trentha-m Queen " the cash remitted to the Wellington Patriotic Society amounted to £11,000.

For the relief of Belgians, Serbs, Montenegrins, British Red Cross, French Red Cross, and the comfort of New Zealand's wounded soldiers overseas, AVairarapa has sent £14,508, War relief contributions in the Wairarapa district amount to £165,000 from a population of 18,878 —an average of £8 14s per head. It is estimated that .Wairarapa gave £20.000 out of the £80,000 (the total of Wellington's fund when at its maximum, for wounded and sick soldiers and their dependents).