TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 24 May 1917, Page 4

TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual meeting of the delegates to the Taranaki War Relief Association ivas held at Stratford yesterday, when ".here were present—Messrs 0. H. Burgess (New Plymouth) in the chair W. P. Kirkwood, J. W. McMillan (Stratford), C. E. Beliringer, W. J. Chancy (New Plymouth), W. E. Pprcival, A. E. Surrey (Inglewood), T. McPhillips and J. S. Stevenson <Manaia), T. B. Crump and D. B. Grrmstone £Eitham), Rev. 0. M. Stent and Geor"'Walker (County of Egmont), C. A. Larcombe (Patea), F. isiills (Hawera), and R. Dunn (Executive of N.Z. Farmers' Union). The annual report and statement of accounts mentioned the following matters : — Application for incorporation was gazetted on April 7, 1916. The fund throughout Taranaki has been built up for the most part by the efforts of the Patriotic Committees and organisations working with the committee 'in the towns and country districts. Subscriptions have also materially augmented the fund. Sftratford and Midhirst Dairy Companies each donated £600 to rfche funds. In a general review of the splendid worok to build up the Wounded Soldiers' Fund reference must be made to the excellent work by the women of Taranaki. Their efforts have been untiring and their work beyond praise. •The general policy of the executive has been to conserve the funds by only granting relief in necessitous ont.es. The wisdom of this policy cannot be questioned when considering the comparatively small number who have, up to March 13, 1917, returned to Taranaki, the number being 2447^1^6 finding of suitable employment for discharged men has been a big factor, j?s l>y this means the funds are to a great extent relieved of unecessary expenditure. All eases before the Association have received sympathetic attention. In several cases loans have been granted to enable applicant to commence some business enterprise in which he has every chance of success. Up to March 31, 1917, 124 cases have been dealt with by the Association and local branches. Grants and periodical payments to soldiers and dependents aggregated £455 5s Bd. The grants by way of loans for purposes of assisting returned men in business aggregated £1100. amounts varying from £40 to £300. The wants of men abroad either in hospital or on active service are fairly well catered- for, the Association having made grants for comforts for soldiers in hospital (abroad) amounting to £900. Employment of Discharged Soldiers — The Association is the recognised agent for the Discharged Soldiers' Information Department in Taranaki, the delegates acting as agents in their respective districts. This has proved very satisfactory as a means of placing soldiers in suitable positions. Funds —The statement regarding the Wounded Soldiers' Fund discloses the frowth of the ,fund up to March 31, 917, the increase being approximately £13,888, and the total £44,522. - All funds received have been invested promptly. Advances on loan account to returned soldiers are not included under this heading, as the income from this souTce is nojt an important factor. Debentures New Plymouth Borough Council, maturing April, 1922, rate of interest" 5_ per cent., £3000. War Loan Certificates, maturing August 22, 1921, to April 2, 1922, 4_ per cent., £10,000. Fixed deposit, Bank New Zealand, St<ra\tford, 4 per cent., maturing August 17, 1918, £3000. Post Office Savings Bank at call, 3 per cent, on running account, £5057 2s 4d. Appreciation—The executive desires ito record appreciation of th.c services rendered by Mr J. E. Wilson and Mr J. W. McMillan. In moving its adoption, the chairman stated t*hat the report had gone very thoroughly into the various matters. The executive had not dealt with every application in a niggardly manner, but had dealt with all on their merits, but a little better, so that no one could saj he had not received justice at the hand* of the Association. Referring to the cla-use in the report dealing with the wants of soldiers abroad either in hospital or at the base, he said that the Association had sent forward £930 out of its contribution of £155 per month, but had now stopped forwarding the money, "_s they understood that it was not being spent. Why, he did not know. The Employment of Discharged Soldiers' Department would continue to grow as the men returned. No doubt where possible, employers would find places for their employees when they returned. He hoped this was so, otherwise a number of* men would be out of work. There were numbers of men who were used to certain work, but who from wounds or sickness would be unable to take up that work, and employment would have to be found for them. He hoped that the people and the Patriotic Associations would see places found for all. The funds and investments ot the Association were set out plainly. It would seem that they had £43,000 in hand. As the men continued to come back the demands would b.e greater, but no doubt when their funds were lowered, and it was found necessary .to call on the public, there would be a good response. Mr W. P. Kirkwood, in seconding, said that when the Association was in process of formation, there had been a good deal of criticism. That was not the time for criticism, but after being twelve months in operation he thought the Association had done good work. Iti was not generally realised that the £43,000 was money raised for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund alone. Considerable sums had also been raised in Taranaki for various other funds, and the total raised for patriotic purposes was therefore very much more. If the total raised in Taranaki was compared with that raised in other parts, he thought it would be found that there was very little to complain about. The policy of the Association had been to conserve its funds, ancr he thought this policy should continue. At present only a mere dribble of Taranaki men —some 200—had returned. When the main j body returned, the whole £43,000, and more, would be required. Regarding the payment of £155 per month he pointed out that the Association had hung up the matter until it was ascertained whether tiie money was expended. He understood that the money had not been sent Home by the Government for a while, but was now being forwarded. He believed that practically every returned man requiring assistance had been placed in employment. Mr Mills (Hawera) pointed out that criticism was helpful in enable tbe association to work on the b&;t lines. Cases had been cited where the association had done nothing to help men in need. This tended to show that tbe organisation of the association was not complete enough to enable it to find out every necessitous case. Before long it might be. possible to improve the organisation, so that the executive might have a better chance of knowing the [ circumstances of every soldier, who j would then not have to depend on his j case being brought before the associa- j tion by bis own or his friends' application. This would depend on the asso-

ciation being able to obtain at every centre men who would act as hon. secretaries, doing the work for the work'ssake. If the public in general would make it their business to bring before the committee any necessitous cases they would be doing good work for the returned men. There had also been criticism regarding the rate of interest charged on advances. Possibly to- begin with the executive may have been over cautious, because it could hardly realise how much would be required and tho £43,000 might not last long! The policy of the association now was to consider the circumstances and physical condition of the aupiicant and charge the rate of interest "accordingly Mr T. McPhillips (Manaia) said'thatevijry case had been treated in an impartial manner. Mr T. B. Crump (Edtham) said that it was a difficult- question to decide what proportion of the fund should be spent at present, and what should be conserved. The Association should endeavor, through a suitable channel, to apply a certain proportion of its funds for the relief of soldiers at the base and in hospitals in England, as well as toassist them on their return to New Zealand. If there were the necessary organisation, there would be no reason why any case should be unrelieved. He emphasised the fact that in necessitous cases small grants were advanced without interest. The chairman, in reply, said they wanted returned soldiers"to realise that the Society and the Association weretheir friends, and that instead of airing-, any personal grievances outside it would be far better to bring them before theSociety. Every case would be dealt with on its merits. The report and balance-sheet werethen adopted. The. following were elected by their various associations as delegates to theexecutive committee:—Messrs C. E. Bellringer (New Plymouth) W. P Kirkwood (Stratford), T. B. Crump(Eltham), F. Mills (Hawera), W. E Percival (Inglewood), T. McPhillips(Manaia), C. A. Larcombe (Patea), T. Dunn (Farmers' Union), Rev. R. B. Tinsley tEgmont). A North Taranaki delegate has to be appointed. ; A vote of thanks to the retiring executive was carried. On the motion of Messrs R. J. Dunn, and "§'. P. Kirkwood, it was resolved, m order to bring the obiects of the Association more prominently before thepublic, to have posters printed and displayed m all Taranaki -post offices, drawing the attention of any returned5, soldiers to the fact that the Association was prepared to help them. Mr T. B. Crumo drew attention tothe remit forwarded by Eltham suggesting that an effort should be'made to increase the funds by setting aside a specifio month (July was mentioned) in.. which the public should be asked to m™ c a direct effort in aid of the funds. The chairman said that this was a matter that the executive should deal" with, as all the branches had been asked tor suggestions, and some replies had not been received. Rev. 0. M. Stent referred to the need tor making some personal effort to °- e fr several small Patriotic Committees "to]om the Association instead of holdinjr their own funds. +wei?, beT? Senera^ were of opinioa thatt if these committees were morecognisant of the work done by the Association they would have no hesitation in joining. i Mr C. H. Burgess stated that it was with regret that he had to inform them that he would not continue on the* . executive, and on the motion of Messrs* 1 T. B. Crump and R. J. Dunn, Mr W. P. Kirkwood was elected chairman. A! vote of appreciation of the services rendered by Mr Burgess was also passed. A meeting of the executive committee was held in the afternoon,. Mr W. P. Kirkwood presiding. A nunlner of applications for financial assistancewere considered and dealt with and amounts varying from £150 to' £500 were advanced on loan to returned soldiers who are farming or in business. Tne meeting of the executive wa^ fixed for the third Wednesday in each month. • Mr T. B. Crump was appointed: treasurer. —Abridged from News. ■ — _