PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4593, 20 May 1922, Page 2

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY

ANNUAL MEETING YESTERDAY. SOCIETY’S FINANCIAL POSITION. At the annual meeting of the Feilding Patriotic Society yesterday the following were present: Messrs J. W. BrainwcU (chairman), T. Masters, J. G. Cobbe, )V. G. Pearce, Jus. Knight, A. 11. Atkinson, Hugh Burrell, W. L. Grice, A. Kidd, H. J. Booth, W. H. Brewster, O- McElroy, J. S. Tingey and Dr. Cameron. THE ANNUAL REPORT. ( Mr J. AV. Bramwell presented the following annual report:— The operations of the Society during tho past year have been confined to payments of weekly and monthly grants to sick and wounded soldiers and their dependants, together with considerations of now applications for loans, grants and temporary assistance. It was not found necessary to call the executive committee together more than twice during the year as ill most cases the assistance sought for was needed immediately, and the matter was dealt with By "the secretary after consultation with the chairman. A large number of applications have been dealt with, but many of these wero from soldiers from other districts temporarily strnndbd in Feihling or the district. In this connection it is satisfactory to know that ! after repeated protests by our secretary outside Patriotic Societies have i now discontinued granting payments to men from this district without, first consulting us 'by telegram or letter, and we invariable do the same when applications are made by soldiers belonging to other districts. In this wav a proper cheek on payments is made possible, and it is satisfactory to find (bat the Societies are working together for the general good of the soldiers in the Dominion. The total amount of payments made to soldiers and their dependants during the year was £499, and the present credit is £1417. This sum is made up by casli invested at call £IOOO, and the balance in bank £252. , Our liabilities amount to £124. During the venr the war certificates bought by the Society five years ago matured. The investment yielded £ISOO, but against this the Society had to pay as interest on temporary bank advance amounting to £l6O. Tho miscellaneous expenditure during the year only amounted to £ll3, which represents a total administrative ex- ■ nondituro of 21 per cent on the disbursements of the Society. AVe have no official figures regarding the average administrative costs shown by • Patriotic Societies’ balance sheets in ■ the Dominion, but in one large centre 1 it is shown that on “A” fund nrlministration costs were 27 per cent, and on “B” fund 31 tier cent. Compared with these figures our percentage is extremely low. This is largely ac- ■ counted for l>v the fact that Mr Fisher, our esteemed secretary, not 1 only gives to the Society his host ser- : vices without remuneration, but he places his office and office equipment at our, disposal, when required, free •of charge. Referring to the loans owing by soldiers to tile Society, I would like to stress the fact that the loans were in all cases granted for ■ purely temporary assistance and a : definite pledge was given by the bor- ■ rowers that they would faithfully pay the interest when due and return the principal at the time agreed upon. Unfortunately some of them have got into arrears with their interest and very few loans have yet been paid. In view of the recent severe slump in the value of farm produce the Society has not pressed for payment, but it must be impressed upon the borrowers that these loans arc debts of honour. If they arc not repaid the time may come when the Society will bo unable to grant urgently needed assistance to soldiers suffering from old wounds or ailments contracted during war service, because certain of their comrades borrowed the funds undor a definite pledge to repay the amounts when due, k but failed to do so. AVe sincerely hope the loans wilT be repaid as soon as possible, and that no soldier will dishonour his engagements in regard to the funds of the Society. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. The Secretary reported that the following had been appointed as members of the Society by the various local bodies:— The Mac 'or, Mr J. S. Tingey. Feilding Borough Council, Messrs J. G Coobo and T. Pagan. Feilding A. and P. Association, Messrs Hugh Burrell and J. Knight. Farmers’ Union, Messrs 11. J. Booth, AV. L. Grice, and A. Kidd. Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. AY. Bramwell. Oroua County Council, Messrs O. McElroy and AV. McLennan. Kiwitoa County Council, Messrs L. T. McLean and F. 0. Stack. Manawatu County Council, Mr T. Masters. Pobaiigina County Council, Mr AV. T. Pratt. The nominated members added tho following, as additional members: Messrs E. H. Fisher, A. 11. Atkinson, \Y. 11. Brewster, and A. Campbell. Officers were elected as follows: Chairman, Mr Bramwell; treasurer, Mr J. S. Tingey; secretary, Mr Fisher; trustees, Messrs Tingey, Bramwell and Fisher; executive, Messrs Bramwell, Tingey, Fisher, Cobbo, McElroy, Brewster, Knight, Atkinson, and Dr Cameron. • UNEMPLOYED SOLDIERS. Dr Cameron (representing the R.S.A.), said tho returned soldiers deeply appreciated tho work which had been done for them by the Society, and after attending this meeting he could tell his Association that the money collected for the soldiers was in perfectly safo hands. There had been keen discussion by the soldiers on the question of using some of the funds for relieving distress, and it had been suggested that the Society might lend some money to the Borough Council to be expended in providing work for unemployed soldiers, but he had made enquiries and found that this could not be legally done. The R.S.A. suggested further that the Patriotic Society might : use its funds for the relief of distress cases, especially amongst returned men with families depending on them, j Tlie R.S.A. would undertake to re- j commend for such relief only genuine I cases. ]

The Chairman said under- a recent amendment of the law the Socioty could use its funds for the relief of distress. The Executive would be called together almost at once, and he asked Dr. Cameron to present particulars of any deserving cases. This Dr. Cameron undertook to do.