CITIZENS' DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 4207, 5 April 1916, Page 2

CITIZENS ' DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING

The fortnightly meeting of the Gisborne. Citizens’ Defence Committee was held yesterday afternoon. There were present Messrs. J. W. Bright (chairman). H. Kenway. R. 51. Birred, T. Jex-Blake, and G. A. Runc-i----inan.

The Salvation Army wrote acknowledging receipt of £4O os 6d, allotted to them for their work in Egypt from the profits of the Fete and River Carnival. and stating that the Salvation Army would undertake gladly the distribution of any gifts allotted to the bovs i.o Egvot or in Malta. Air. Keuwav asked if anything had been done for the boys in Alalta.

The Chairman stated that as far

he knew, nothing had been done so far.

Air. Kemvay moved that a sum of £SO be handed to the Salvation Army for the relief of New Zealand soldiers in Alalta. The motion was carried. 'The Discharged Soldiers'’ Information Department wrote enclosing a

copy of an advertisement published in the centres, and promising to forward a list of offers of employment for soldiers now in hand. The Department further asked tiie Committee to keep them advised of any offers of employment made through them, as certain offers which the Committee could not fill might suit a mail residing In another district. Air. Bin-ell stated that tiie Recruiting Committee had received only a few applications for employment for soldiers, and had so far been able to olaee a!! applicants.

ft was decided that if any places were found which they could not fill, they should inform the Central Executive Committee at Wellington.. The Invalid Soldiers’ Benefit Association, Rotorua, wrote, on behalf of the invalid soldiers under treatment at the Sanatorium at Rotorua, asking tiie Committee’s assistance in providing for a recreation room at the Sanatoria!.

The Chairman said that the Committee iiad out £250 into the new King George Hospital, hut had done nothing as iar as tiie main sanatorium was concerned. Air. Jex-Blake said they ought to do something, it was a vary necessary improvement suggested.

It was decided to ascertain what other societies were doing, with the intention of falling into line.

Air. Kuncirnan said he had been asked whether, in the event of a soldier drawing a section of land in a land ballot, he could borrow money from the Patriotic Committee on the security of the land, to improve-his land. Tiie Chairman stated that a Government schenft was already in operation for this contingency. He considered that it uould be fatal to the spirit of their organisation to enter into any capital schemes such as this. As he had said before, until they could ascertain their final obligations, they could not do more than offer temporary supplementary relief to returned soldiers.

Air. Kenway asked if there would be any difference in drawing interest from a wounded soldier on the security of liis land and drawing the same interest from a fixed deposit in the bank.

Air. Bright said that, in his opinion, they would not be inclined to follow their legal position to the end in the case of a soldier who found himself unable to comply with the requirements.

Air. Kenway said there was. a great deal in that argument, which, lie thought, would put the matter beyond consideration. It was decided, on Air. Jex-Blake’s suggestion, to write to the Department, suggesting that the allowance for married women with children should be raised The cash statement showed : Balance Alarch 2. £24,585 12s lid; donations received. £2,765 8s 9d; payments (including £495 12s 2d to the Belgian Fund) £623 18s 2d, leaving a balance of £26,727 6s Gel. Of tbe total the AYounded Soldiers’ Fund amounts to £22,259 ISs Id.