HELPING HAND FUND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1473, 16 November 1915, Page 3

HELPING HAND FUND.

The first meeting of the committee set up to administer the above fund was held in the Council Chambers last night. Mr G. H. Stiles, as chairman of the committee, presided and there were present : Mesdames Harvey, Mandl, Wood, Messrs Wtn. Ross, Chrystall, Kelly, Juo. Ross. KeulJohnston (secretary) and Symes (treasurer). The minutes of the meeting held in August, 1914, when the fund was inaugurated, were read and confirmed. The Chairman stated the meeting had been called to conssder an application for relief. He said when the fund was inaugurated the outlook, ou account ot the war and the future of the flax milling, was very unpromising. It was thought then that industries and trade would be dislocated and distress would follow as a result. In order to relieve distress brought about by such circumstances, the fund was opened ami although no canvassing was authorised a sum of 19s 6d had been placed to the credit of the fund. This money had been raised by two benefit entertainments and a few subscriptions. He was glad to say that things had not turned out so black as they appeared at the time and there had only been one call of a small amount on the fund together with the present application. Mr Wm. Ross said the fund had been called into existence at the request of Lady Liverpool to assist local cases of distress occasioned by the war. He strongly objected to the funds being used for other purposes. There had been no distress through stoppage of trade and no one could say that the war had interfered with general prosperity. The Chairman said they should take a broad view of the matter, He was of opinion that the fund should be used for cases ot local distress outside the war. This view was endorsed by other speakers and in order to put matters on a definite footing Mr Kelly moved and Mr Jno. Ross seconded, that the fund be used for cases of local distress. Mr Ross moved as an amendment that the fund be used only for cases ot distress caused through the war or stoppage of trade. He stated that this was the original intention and although there had not been any cases up to the present they had to consider the future. The Charitable Aid Board should not be allowed to pass on its responsibilities to the fund. Mr Hornblow said he had been responsible for the meeting in bringing the application forward. As representative of the Charitable Aid Board, this was the first time he had asked for outside assistance but the case was one which he considered was entitled to something extra and he was of opinion that the fund was to assist such cases. Under the circumstances and in order that the committee should not create a precedent, he would withdraw the application and at 'the same time he assured the meeting that the case would not be neglected. The committee decided to grant a sum ot 30s to the case and also £2 2s to another case. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.