POPPY DAY FUNDS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2123, 15 May 1922, Page 5

POPPY DAY FUNDS

FOR UNEMPLOYED RETURNED MEN. OVER £3OOO FOR WELLINGTON DISTRICT. The important question in these difficult times, when numbers of returned soldiers are out of employment, of the best method of disposal of the funds raised by the Returned Soldiers’ Association on Poppy Day, was discussed at the distiict conference of the R.S.A. held in Palmerston North during the week-end. As complete returns have not yet been obta.ncd of the sales in the various towns throughout the Wellington district, the secretary was unable to make a statement of the exact amount available. Pie stated, however, that poppies were issued to a number calculated to produce £4988 5/. Under the agreement, if this amount was realised, £1223 4/10 went to France for relief-in the devastated areas. At the moment he had in hand £941 12/1, and it seemed probable that £3500 for use locally would be obtained. It was observed by one speaker that in many cases the poppies sold had realised more than the amounts charged. Mr B. J. Jacobs stated that the proceeds of the sale in Palmerston North would amount to £4OO. After some discussion, it was decided on the motion of .Mr A. H. Herbert (Eketahuna) that the funds raised in the Wellington district be vested in the. executive of the district for the relief of unemployed returned soldiers, and that prominent public men be requested to act in association with the district executive. Also that a committee be set up to take the following matters into consideration; (1) Obtaining subsidies, (2) current rates of wages, (3) selection of work. Those elected to the committee were: Messrs C. Mitchell. M.P. (Wellington), J. I. Fox (Feilding), Dr Gow (Levin), and the mover. Other matters referred to the committee included consideration of a scheme whereby the moneys might be spent as far as possible in the districts in which they were raised. After some deliberation the committee recommended that a committee of four returned soldiers and three civilians be set up to allocate the funds, and that each Association haying returned soldiers unemployed in its area be invited to apply for a grant, stating the number of men unemployed, whether married, or single, the class of work, and the body through which it is to bo done, and the subsidy which that body may be prepared to give. The recommendations were endorsed, and Messrs B. J. Jacobs, G. Mitchell, M.P., J. I. Fox (Feilding) and Dr. Gow (Levin), were appointed the four, committeemen. The three civilians chosen, subject to their consent, were Sir John Luke (Mayor of Wellington), Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., and. Mr J. H. Stevens.