PATRIOTIC SOCIETY CRITICISED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1018, 10 November 1917, Page 2

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY CRITICISED.

t 1 At yesterday’s meeting of tTie Patriotic Society some remarks wore made concerning us finances, and its standing generally with the public. Mr 11. Haycock said there appeared to be an impression among a section of the people that the Society had something like £40,000 to tho credit ol tho Sick and Wounded Fund. “Wo want to tell them that wo have nothing of the sort,” said the speaker, “and unless wo do that, the public is not going to give us anything more. As a matter of fact the Society had only something over £20,000 in the Sick and Wounded Fund, the smallest sum possessed by any of the large centres of the Dominion.” Mr Haycock Avent on to say that the Society was becoming unpopular with the public—(Members: No) —and ho quoted the case of the Wanganui j Society, which was stated to have a ! sum of £IOO,OOO in hand. AVc had done I nothing to raise any largo sum of | money here, and this Society was going | to be blamed when our soldiers return- ( cd in larger numbers, because of their j not being so well treated as tho men in other parts of the Dominion. The Mayor said he was preparing a ! special report on the position of the i Society, and this would give every member the opportunity of going into j the question. He was considering who- j ther a special meeting should not he j calk’d to discuss it. 1 Mr Haycock: It is up to ns to.do our ! best to get a better footing than we are i on at present . Tho Mayor: The members will have, j every opportunity at the meeting I mentioned, and I hope that something , will come of it. Mr F. H. Cooke said there was not | the slightest doubt that a good deal of j mud was lining thrown at, the Society, and there was the danger ot some ol it sticking. . Misconception existed, and this should be cleared up. Mr E. 11. Crabb favoured a public meeting being called, so that those who had charges or grievances against the Society could state them. The Mayor: Von wood not get them ■ there. , ' Mr Orahh said it they did happen to j ' he there the Society should have its I facts and figures ready to state its ease. ; 'The Mayor then referred to a state- j ; incut made at a meeting held last Sun- j i day evening to the effect Unit he (the. Mayor) was against the position of sec- i rotary of the Society being given in a j .returned soldier. The Mayor explained j that what ho had stated was that when' • they were handling large sums ol money | the position of secretary could not he i allowed to go begging to a returned j soldier or anyone else. Great respon- i sibilities were attached to it- He had I •nothing against returned soldiers. There I were soldiers in the town in good posi- j lions, and they were not going to give. J them up to take nn the secretaryship of the Society. They were satisfied —where they were. ! In reply to a question, the Mayor j said he thought the special meeting i could ho arranged for the week alter next. ■| Mr G [’instead said lie thought a statement of tho Society’s disbursements should be published regularly so that the public could see what was being done. . 1 The Mayor said this was already being done.