GREY PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 July 1918, Page 2

GREY PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

ordinary meeting. v The ordinary weekly meeting of tfee Grey Patriotic Association was held yesterday afternoon. Present —Messrs ; D. Tennent, W. H. Parfitt, P. N. Jeffreys, W, It. Kettle, D. McKay, P. Mackenzie, and Brook-Taylor. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr. McKay was voted to ‘the chair. CORRESPONDENCE, 5 The Secretary of the War Relief Association, Wellington, wrote in reference to the bona tides of several cases, and suggested what course to pursue in the event of applications being made for grants. - -Received. Tire War Relief Association wrote, stating that Cabinet had approved of the: recommendation of the Returned Soldiers’ Association that the mufti allowance be increased to five guineas.— Received. From the Grey Caledonian Society, enclosing a cheque for £2 lls for Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, this being the nett proceeds of a. lecture held by the Society on June 3rd. —Received. With regard to an application for grant, it was moved by Mr. Kettle and seconded by Mr. Tennent, that the mat ter bs left over till the Mayor’s return. Accounts were considered and passed for payment. Mr. Mackenzie stated in regard to raising funds that an offer had been made by a company of Pierrots in Westport to give a series of concerts on the CoAst. The id.ea was to give one at Reefton cn Monday, 22nd inst., at Greymouth on Tuesday, 23rd., at Hokitika on Wednesday, 24th, and again at Greymouth on Thursday, 25th. All the company asked was for their travelling expenses paid, and it was suggested that Reefton pay one quarter, Hokitika one quarter and Greymouth one-half. It was agreed that this would be a very good idea, and a committee was appointed to make arrangements.

A PROTEST. Mr. Mackenzie brought up the matter of the appointments of attesting officers to the Military Medical Boards. He stated that he had noticed in the “Star” where Lieut. Harold Webb had been appointed to one .of these positions. He characterised this as a gross injustice in view of the fact that-there were several returned men notably mentioning Lieut Frickleton, who were available, and quite competent to carry out the duties appertaining to the position. Feeling ran very high over this matter, both amongst the returned soldiers and the public. He moved ; “That representations be made to the Government in the matter of the appointment of attesting officers, and instance the case just mentioned, where Lieut. Frickleton and others who were quite competent to do the work had been passed over. Mr. Tennent seconded the motion, which was carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Mr. Tennent gave notice of motion for next meeting :—“That the attention of the Government be drawn to the number of military deserters and shirkers, and that they he disfranchised for life if they do not immediately return to their duties.”