MONEY! MONEY!

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 45, 21 February 1917, Page 13

MONEY! MONEY!

A CALL READILY ANSWERED.

However, it is mainly in patriotic work that the Farmers' Union has been engaged sinco that fateful day in August, 1914, when the British Empire entered the great struggle which has kept it so busy ever since. The Wairarapa. distript has done remarkably well. All and sundry have, given freely right from tho start, and in many instances the generous spirit did not wear off after tho initial excitement. The Farmers' 1 Union saw to it that that did not happen. When the first news came through a meeting of the. Farmers' Union was called for the purpose of Taising' money for- the purchase of horses ; for the men who were leaving the district, and so enthusiastic and so generous were those"present that £6000 was raised in the room. The union ooatiaued the igood work and {prmsd,,tlie

nucleus of tho Wairai'apa Patriotic Ass©-; ciation. . Mr. Hebenton was appointed secretary, and the .whole organisation at the Farmers' Union; was utilised for the raising of money, and the ordinary work was neglected. It is still'being neglected to a large extent, although the:.unibn is every ready to consider any; suggestion for the proper working of the farms of men.who go to the front. . ..,„",.'■. : "THE KELLY; GANG.""/ The fact' that the Wairarapa' Patriotio Association has raised over £150,000 since the war broke out, will ever stand to the credit of the district. It is indeed a remarkable achievement. - .'This excludes a gift of land valued at £10,000 from' Mr. A. P. Whatman, whose generosity appears to know no bounds. Practically all the - farmers have given, their share, although in > some -cases a little gentle persuasion -has „be"en -necessary. ;-This, work has. been .left. ,111. the hands of four gentlemen, who have coma to be known throughout the district as "The Kelly Gang." They are.Messrs.' Hugh Morrison, A. P. Whatman,. Guy; Williams, and A. M'Donald. Their canvass has been untiring, and.the result's of their work are shown in the big total mentioned above. They, have all given substantial amounts themselves. ASSOCIATION'S GOOD/WOEEIn the space available it is impossible to , give a very lengthy account •of the; helpful operations of the Wairajapai Patriotic Association in numerous directions. In each centre there is • a Local Welfare Committee, ready and anxioua to' enquire into any cases of- distress occasioned'by the war. These cases are dealt with finally by an executive board. Returned soldiers are specially welllooked after, and each man, on coming back from the front, is given a right 'of service grant of. £5, irrespective of hia financial position. In .dealing with, returned men : the association does! not penalise thrift. So far,there have not" been many claims on account of distress from the dependents of soldiers or others, indicating the prosperous cbndiSbii 0! the district. The association, ...with a subsidy'from the- Government, has erect,ed a soldiers' club at Featherston. Canape ' . this action involving the expenditure' oil £1200. The club, on completion, was handed over to the control.' of th'a V.M.C.A. Concerts are arranged. reguj larly. ■ Tho association also greeted ail Featherston a club for officers at a cos! of £650. This is now. run by, the officers themselves. The Featherston Ladled ' Committee' arranges the' supply'of refreshments to all the men 'who"'march over the Rimutaka,., and .considering that each batch comprises .about tw<j thousand ' men the- task"- .is"'not a light one. Every Wednesday "niglrl entertainments are given for the-soldieri at the'Masterton Town Hall. - These- ar< run alternately'by the".'Lady Liverpool Committee.and the Hostesses' Corrimitteei Carterton, Greytown, and Featherston all do their share in' the ' entertainment ol tho soldiers. The" Anzac" Club," lfq"r ,'thi use of soldiers in the*Feathers'ton l';towni . ship was provided by early settlers in th< Wairarapa, and 'over £8000 was 'spent it. its erection and furnishing: -hMr; J';W.B , Bid will was responsible for the organisation of the niovemeht and the: collectiol of the money. In realising £21,000 fjji the famous Whatman. flag, Master'toi : holds a unique record. , A photograph, ol the Trenthiun Camp, which has been sole over l and over again, has realised almosi a like amount. . . . '-".•' '■''•.'

. Altogether the Farmers' Union hi reason to feel proud of its excellent work; Though its actual objects have- been ne> glected ever since the war broke out, il has accomplished work of greater vValua Much credit is due to the work^'of Mr, D. Hebenton, who in December last re' signed from the position of secretary aft'ei over *two years o"£ hard work."" Mr. Hebenton. previously rejected 'by thi military authorities, has since been ao cepted, and , will shortly go into camp where-ho -will bo able to judge* frod .another point of view of the work dohi by the Wairarapa-Patnotic Association,