PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1946, Page 3

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

WELFARE COMMITTEES.TO CONTINUE WORK WESTLAND COUNCIL MEETS Anticipating that, in future, the bulk of work in connection with patriotic funds will be done by. the district welfare committees, the Westland Provincial patriotic council, at a meeting at Greymouth last evening, decided upon the constitution of these bodies, and also set a limit to the grants which they may make in individual cases, without reference to a standing committee of the council.

The subject was introduced by *Mr. A. R. Elcock, chairman of the council, who' said that a lot of the local patriotic committees had already been disbanded and it seemed that, in future, the work was going to be done by the welfare committees. The council, it would appear, would just evolve into a sort of supervising body and he suggested that it should lay down rules for the guidance of the welfare committees and provide a standing committee to do the supervising. In reply to a question by Mr. K. O. May, the chairman said that no lead had been given by the National Council in the matter. Mr. W. Green questioned whether it would be necessary for any standing rules to be laid down for the welfare committees, members of which had been doing the job for a long time. Mr. F. A. Kitchingham said he took it that the object was to set out the constitution of the welfare committees so that when a vacancy occurred there would be no difficulty in filling it. The Greymouth committee consisted of two returned men and himself, and he thought that a similar small committee was the most effective. Constitution of Committees. Following some discussion on the best type of committee, it was eventually decided, on the motion of Messrs. Kitchingham and W. Clayton, that welfare committees consist of the mayor (in the case of boroughs) or the county chairman (in the case of counties), two representatives of the Returned Services’ Association, and a secretary-treasurer to be appointed by the first-mentioned members.

The chairman said he did not think it was advisable to lay down any definite rules for welfare committees, the main thing being to have the right men. However, he notesd that the Canterbury Council had laid down the maximum amount which could be granted to any individual over a 12-month period, without reference to the standing committee. He suggested that a similar rule might be introduced. Several members pointed out that the council had every confidence in the members of the welfare committees, but Mr. O. Hutchinson (Hokitika) stressed that there might be considerable changes over a period of years. “I feel that the committee would not object to some limitation and, m fome cases, they might even find it useful,” said Mr. Kitchingham. On the motion of Messrs. Kitchingham and J. B. Kent, it was decided to adopt the same rule as Canterbury. It was also decided, after some discussion, that the council s standing committee, to act in a supervisory and consulting capacity to the welfare committees, should comprise the Mayors of Greymouth and Hokitika’and a representative of the Returned Services’ Association. On Mr. Kitchingham’s suggestion, it was decided that any member unable to attend a meeting be entitled to send a

deputy. ~ In reply to a question by Mr. Green, Mr. Kitchingham said that nothing that the council had decided would alter the present functions of the welfare committees. Council’s Investments. The chairman submitted the following report:— “Since the last meeting of the council, there has been little activity in patriotic matters. There have, of course, been no further collection of funds and payments received represent clearing up of monies previously received by the various committees, and interests accruing. Since the end of the previous financial year, the following alterations in investments have taken place: October 1945: £lOOO fixed deposit at Bank of New Zealand, matured ana was paid into the council’s National Savings account. January, 1946: Upon receipt of final payment of £485 ( 18/6 from the Grey Patriotic Committee, £4500 was invested m 3 per cent. Government Stock. September, 1946: National Savings bands to tne value of £14,860 matured and were reinvested as follows:—£1000 in National Savings Account, £3OOO m National Savings bonds, and £ll,l>uu in 3 per cent. Government With regard to moneys which had been invested in the bonds matured as above-mentioned, members will know that in assessing the price of these bonds a deduction was made to cover Social Security charges payable on the interest included in the maturity value of the bonds, lhe sum of £lB5/15/- was the amount assessed on the matured bonds above referred to. “I made application to the Commissioner of Taxes for a refund of this amount and a reply dated Nofvember'29 has just been received that the amount of the tax formed part of the purchase price of the bond and is therefore not refundable. ri appears to me that the answer is unsatisfactory and that the position should be placed before the Minister of Finance for his consideration. “I regret to report that Mr. Jenkins, who has been acting secretary of. the council, had to give up all work in May last and is still in hospital.” It was decided to write to Mr. Jenkins expressing sympathy in his illness and wishing him a speedy recovery. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. R. C. Bennett, who succeeded Mr. N. Messenger as Greymouth R.S.A. representative on the council. It was decided to make application to the Minister of Finance for a refund of . the Social Security charges on the council’s bonds, as mentioned in the chairman’s report. Thanks to Public. The chairman said it appeared that, in. future, the council would meet only annually and he desired to take the opportunity to express his thanks to the members and all those people throughout the district, particularly the collectors, who put in

such a lot of work to collect the funds. He had the greatest admiration for those, chiefly women, who stuck to the job and collected regularly throughout the war. He aid not intend to name any, as there were so many. He also wished to thank the people who gaveagain he did not intend to mention anyone, but there was one particular class he would like to mention —the old people and people in poorer circumstances. many of whom gave regularly, at considerable effort. He (the chairman) also desired to thank the members of the council who attended many meetings. He thought they could take pride in the fact thar members who attended conrerences in Wellington had never claimed one penny expenses, although fully 98 per cent, of the delegates got thenexpenses. Similarly, the council s secretarial work had not cost it a penny. He thought tne membeis could feel that, they did their job pretty well and put their best in co it. Endorsing the chairman s iemarks, Mr. Kitchingham said he thought they had had a wonderful team ot workers; They were drawn from all sections of the communicy. Tne vanous committees were truly democratic and the common objective welded the people together, so that when the time came to cnsband they were quite unwilling to make tne bresk Mr.' Kitchingham also referred to Mr. Elcock’s work as. chairman of the council, and his motion of appreciation was carried by aC(^ an J^ 1 ? n ‘ on For the year ended September .jO, ceT S and ToSlV 1 ! 30/4/2;" welfare the year the following contributions and donations we I l 'V ece £ 3 e 32/M/l G ? Sn ~ ?7/4 nan* County, £2B/15/3; Westland County, £66/1/11; sundry donations ■ £1032/15/8. Interest on the council’s investments amounted t 0 The balance 1 °sheet as at September o n T W46 showed accumulated funds SIS/TA and 6/4 PtS a total 0t'£38,745/13/9. There T e n ° rSI “"s "and shown a . j ianc [s of committees advances less re “ A 7 2 /13 o B A6 fixed deposits at banks National Savings bonds pS- inscribed stock £21,250; 5 Savings Bank £220/8/11; p/f Office: Savings Bank £l6BB Post Cm Bank of New Zear Z d ! SSent‘account) £1074/13/4, tend (cuyent £38)745/13/9 . The making a d win increase «9/H/6 on. maturity. ■ by £439/ / meeting were Present Elcoc k (chairman), E. MeS £ rS - J B. Kent, K. O. May, W - fTthteson R- C. Bennett, W. r±TG Jamieson, F. A. KitchS^w.' Clayton, F. H. Denton, and P. J. McLean.