"POPPY DAY"

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4593, 19 May 1922, Page 4

"POPPY DAY"

A WELLINGTON DEBATE. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS. At tho aim nil conference of the Wellington District Returned Soldeirs' Association, held at Palinerstou, the chairman (Mr J. Jacobs) said it was felt that the executive should endeavour to formulate some policy with regard to the administration of the Poppy Day funds. The sum of £4988 5s represented the value of tho poppies sent out to various associations in the Wellington district. The majority of associations had reported that Poppy Day had proved a complete success, but returns were not yet to hand and the complete position could not be stated at present. He believed that aftar the account had been squared, and the percentage agreed upon forwarded to tho authorities who would administer tho funds in France, the sum of about £4OO collected locally w.nil be available hero. Mr A. 15. Siovwright (Wellington) said it could be taken as a fair estimate that the sum of £3700 -perhaps £3ooo—would be available for tho relief of unemployment among returned soldiers in Wellington and district.

Mr Fox (Feilding) moved that each local association should receive tho net proceeds of the sale of poppies, and that such money be used for the relief of unemployment in their respective districts. Colonel Mitchell, M.P., said the question of wages would bo a burning one. There would have to be no discrepancy between the rates paid in the various localities. Unemployment among returned soldiers was very acute, ospeciall.y in the cities, whence those who were out of work almost inevitably drifted. 'The man who is up against it," said tho speaker, "is not the navvy or the labourer, who is ablo to do hard work, but the man who has been used to offico work who is physically disabled. The man who is suffering from a war disability which prevents him from doing hard manual labour—perhaps ho is receiving a pension of 10s per week—is the biggest problem. This man is the most difficult to provide, for. but his wants will Jiaev to be supplied," the speaker concluded, adding that public bodies should be called upon to give a £ for £ subsidy to the funds. After considerable discussion the motion was defeated, and it was resolved that the Poppy Day funds be vested in the executive of the district for the relief of unemployed returned soldiers; and that prominent public men be requested to act in association with the district executive; and that tho followinf be taken in consideration by the committee set up: (a) obtaining subsidies; (b) current wages to be paid; (c) selection of work to bo done; (d) schemes to be introduced without delay; and (e) that funds be paid as far as possible in tho association district where raised.

Colonel Mitchell (convenor), Dr Gow and Messrs Herbert and Fox wero elected a committee to deal with the matter, and later in the day they rpesented tin. following report, which was adopted: (1) That a committee of association members bo elected, with the addition of three civilians, to allcate and control the funds, the secretary of the association to act as secretary to tho committee; (2) that each asosciation in whose area there arc unemployed returned soldiers be invited to apply for a grant from the fund, the application to state (a) the number of soldiers out of work, (b) the number married, single, or with dependents, (c) tho work proposed to ho done, (dj tho body through which the work is being done, (c) the subsidy which such local body will give. The following committee was elected: Colonel Mitchell, Messrs Jacobs and Fox and Dr Gow (association representatives) and Sir John Luke and Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P., and J. H. Stevens. Tt was stated by the secretary that the su mof £42 10s 9d had been collected at Roncotea as a result of the sale of poppies, and in addition two wreaths of poppies had been purchased bv returned men for £7 Is Gd. which further iweeled the fund.