PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16646, 3 September 1914, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

OVER £12,000 SUBSCRIBED. DISPOSAL OF THE MONEY DISCUSSED. APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES. The General Committee of the Patriotic Fund met yesterday afternoon and discussed the position in regard to the War Funds arid the relief of distress. The Mayor presided, and Colonel Chaffey attended. The chairman stated that the most sanguine expectations in regard to the citizens' liberality had been realised. Over £12,000 had been subscribed to the Patriotic Fund. It would be necessary to look a long way ahead, and mako provisions for troopers' dependents for many years. Arrangements had been considered in regard to insuring tho troopers against accident, and two large companies had been consulted. The managers had referred the proposal to the head offices, which, however, had decided to have nothing to do with the soheme. It had been found impossible, also, to come to an arrangement in regard to life insurance for the men. A suggestion had been made that Miss Cardale should be appointed a lady inspector to inquire into cases of distress. A few trustees should be appointed to deal with the funds. All the committees had done admirable work. Mr H. B. Soronsen said that the hardest work had fallen on the shoulders of the ladies. He moved that a hearty vote of thanks should bo passed to them. .

Colonel Chaffey seconded the motion. He said that the men were greatly indebted to the ladies. The troops would leave better equipped than was usually the case when men went forth to war, and that was on account of the ladies' efforts. ' The motion was carried unanimously, with applause. The chairman also thanked the Christchurch newspapers. Colonel Chaffey said that each man, as soon as he went on board the vessel, would receive half his pay. The other half would be left behind, and ithe military authorities would know to whom that portion must bo given. At present the men were paid in full, but on a war pay footing half the money would bo attached by the authorities, and would bo handed to responsible persons. The chairman said that five tons of potatoes and other goods had been contributed. Sections had been offered, for cultivation, and he had asked citizens generally to cultivate their gardens. He thought that the potatoes could be used in connection with finding work for tho unemployed. The ' special Unemployment Committee had submitted the following recommendation: "That, as a means of alloviating some of the present unemployment distress, this meeting suggests to the committeo of tho Patriotic Fund that it should offer to advance to the Government on Treasury bills, maturing in twelve months, £6OOO on condition that it is spent immediately in erecting ten or more workers', homes in Christchurch or the suburban districts." Mr F. W. Hobbs moved that the recommendation should be sent on to the trustees of the fund. Mr A. H. Turnbull said that the 6iim mentioned was only a drop in the ocean. He thought that.it was unwise to re l strict the expenditure in any direction. In any case, the committeo was not an Unemployment Committee, and had nothing to do with finding work- If work was done specially for tho unemp'oyed, it should bo reproductive work. The unemployment problem should be dealt with on a wider ,basis. The tunnel, for instance, might be taken in hand. There were plenty of empty houses in Christchurch at present, without erecting more. Colonel Chaffey said that the money in tho fund was given purely for the war. Hje did not think that the subscribers intended that the money should go to the unemployed. Mr Sorensen suggested that it would be better to defer consideration of the proposal. Mr J. A. Flesher said that the trustees of the fund should have the administration of the.moneys. Mr A. Kaye said that the disposal of tho fund should not. be associated in any way with the unemployed problem. The chairman said that he agreed with Mr Kaye. Mr G. R. Whiting said that if the' money was spent in the way suggested in the recommendation, it would come back to the committee in twelve months, when it would be most needed. He thought that in the meantime it should be used for the alleviation of distress in the city. Mr H. C. Lane said that one of tho objects of tho fund was to alleviate distress "in a general way," but that was meant to apply to troopers, not to tho general public.

Mr Cyrus Williams s,aid that that object was governed with the others, which referred only to the war.

Mr Hobbs said that the proposal was merely to invest tho monoy for twelve months. The motion that tho recommendation of ■ the Unemployment Committee should be sent on to the trustees of the fund was lost. On the suggestion of Mr E. Nordon it was decided that an application should be made for moneys available in the' Boer War Patriotic Fund. The Mayor, Colonel Chaffey and Messrs W. Reece, J. A. Frostick, Cyrus Williams, F. W. Hobbs, J. J. Dougall A. H. Turnbull, J. A. Flesher, H. B. Sorensen and G. R. Whiting were appointed a permanent executive.

On the motion of Mr Fleshnr, seconded by Mr Williams, the definition

of tho objects of the fund, as set out by the Mayor and published in tho newspapers, was approved. ■ The chairman moved that the Mayor, the town clerk (Mr H. R. Smith), tho president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr E. G. Staveley) and tho president of tho Navy League (Mr Dougall) should be appointed trustees. Mr Flesher suggested that tho executive should bo asked to make a suggestion in regard to the appointment of trustees. On tho motion of Mr Williams, it was decided to appoint only threo trustees, tho Mayor and town clerk of Christchurch and tho president of the Navy League. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The executive of tho committee met; present —the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) in tho chair, and Messrs C. Williams, J. J. Dougall, A. H. Turnbull, F. W. Hobbs and H. B. Sorensen. Tho Mnyor stated that he had received word from Timaru that they had fallen in with tho canteen proposal, and had sent a cheque for their share in tho cost. They had refused, however, to contribute towards the extra expense of equipping tho South Canterbury men. Mr Holland said that he thought the money which had been paid by North Canterbury friends would be refunded in due course. ' Tho secretary (Mr R. Tosswill) announced that' the amount of funds in hand at present was about £12,061.