SOLDIERS’ GRAVES GUILD

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5078, 24 September 1903, Page 3

SOLDIERS’ GRAVES GUILD

A ui!!i tin;' of delegates of the Soilin'!., Grave.-, (jmi. 1 i epreMinting vinous i", ui nin .V. ,v Zen laud, a a.i held y< lerd.iy at Gov.-nimeia i.jili I<li n;_.s, -dies .Seddon i p.(>..<!,'it:,i in me ci;.;;r. 'the loU'./Wiag U Un; Ut. <n <;.dc!.Ctl-.c»:— Cin i- v.cini! oil, ifr» G. Way : Grey borough, Hr* Seddon; Kwhoura, c.siu.y, AL.-., Seddon; Grey county, itm. J. Alar.-hall; Jto.v, boron oil, Al r.i Kendall; Aucltlainl City. Mr Kind ; Soilhliiny. Hu president; U'e.-.lhtnd cauiily, Aim-. Soddon : , Hokitika Inanely Ait-.-. Sudden ; ViVdington. .Ills.-, Contes ami Air* Luke; London a.-Oi.y, ilrt Von Jlna-t, M:<Findlay ami Airs Seymour j lie, lit 1 George; A lac; i. I’a'-riol ic Fuad, ’leilehSieu Tukmo.

The annual report suhnu.i.ed by,-dr,, Seddon related the stops winch had been taken to fosui the guild, and slated that at the meeting hold in London it had been decided than the moneys should he forwarded to the Central Committee in South Africa. Considering all things, the response made to the appeal in Mew Zealand! laid been a liberal one, the sum of £075 2s 2d haying been received. In many cases not oven an acknowledgment of the request of 'the guild had been forwarded, and in several towns no action whatever had been taken ; but there were very bright exceptions, and Airs Seddon called attention to the liberal response of Canterbury, which headed the lid, Westland coming .second. The appeals to tho patriotic committees hud been well responded to; £IOO had been received from tho Aliaori Patriotic Fluid, £25 from Southland and £5 from Onehunga. Other contributions were expected from other sources. Tho question had arisen as to tho mode of distribi.itinrr tho funds now in the bank to the credit of tho guild—whether it should bo sent to South Air-ca to a central body or to organised branches in various places. I Ins matter Mould he loit to tho executive. Tho balance-sheal; showed that the receipts amounted to £075 2s 3d. consisting of subscriptions, while Iho expenditure amounted to £6 1-is 3d, tho credit balance, therefore, being £COS Ss. On tho motion of tho Hon. J. Alarshall, M.L.C., seconded by air Kidd, M.11.R., the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Air Alanshafl saidlnnf tho results wore exceedingly satisfactory whilst Air Kidd remarked, thru the work done by Mrs Seddon and those associated with her had received tho hichetst commendation. The secretory of ' the Klorksdorp branch of tho Loyal Women’s League of South Africa wrote, stating that the branch had erected substantial wooden crosses on tho gravus of Mew Zealand soldiers in tho Klerksdorp cemetory. A quantity of other correspondence aas read in reference to the graves of various Now Zealand soldiers, and is to ho dealt with by the executive. It was agreed that a central executive should bo formed, consisting of ‘-he 'president and seven other menibc.i >, three to form a quorum. Air Kidd, M.H.R., proposed that Airs Seddon should be elected president for the year, and said that from the commencement of this movement Airs Seddon had shown a thorough grasp of the work, and that no one had given more whole-hearted service to,the cause. It would bo a groat disaster to tho movement if she refwsqd to accept the pceition. Tiro motion having been agreed .o. Airs Seddon explained that she had wished to retire from tho office, hut would take it rather than allow tho work to fall through. However, she was willing to retire at any time if some other member wished to take up the work.

Tie following executive was appointed:—Miss Coates, Mrs Way, Mrs Luke, Miss Seddon, Mre Kendall, Mrs Von Haa&t and Mrs Wardrop (Christchurch).

It wati resolved that tho executive should be empowered to decide how tho funds should be distributed; and it was also agreed that the local branches should ho asked 'to remain in, existence and continue tho work they had boon doing. A hearty vote of thanks was given to Mrs Seddon, on tho motion of the Hon. J. Marshall, seconded by Hr Von Hanst, both of whom spoke in high terms of tho work which had been done by the president.