OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3196, 16 June 1915, Page 57

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the executive of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association was held on Monday in the Town Hall at 11 a.m., the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presiding. A letter was -received from Mr C. Capamagian pointing out that the decision to hold a Queen Carnival in Balclutha had not been unanimous, and that the Clinton Committee had decided to throw in its lot with the Dunedin movement. This had given rise to a doubt as to what the position would be if the nationalising of all funds did not eventuate, and information was desired as to whether the districts supporting Balclutha would have to look to Balclutha for a share of the proceeds, and that they would get no 'assistance from the Dunedin fund. The writer asked for information on other points arising from the matter, and discussion was deferred until Mr Sargood’s notice of motion was before the meeting, his Worship remarking that the point raised was a most important one, and that the position should bo clearly defined. The Otago Labour Dky Association advised that 90 per cent, of the profits of its celebrations would be handed to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and not to the fund for relief in Belgium and Otago.—Received. Mr G. L. Denniston moved that, in addition to the monthly donation to the Belgian Fund, a sum of £SOOO bo forwarded to the Government for transmission to the Belgian Fund. Some £12,000 was in hand, and there was no wisdom in keeping the money here.— The motion was carried. Mr P. R. Sargood moved—“ That the sum of £13.000 be hereby voted from the unconditional fund to be need for the maintenance and assistance of returned soldiers, sailors, and their dependents, or the dependents of those who may die on active service, or who may die after return to the dominion as a result of such active service.” Mr F. W. Mitchell seconded the motion, which was carried after some discussion.

The Public Appeal Committee reported as follows:—Collection for May by nhe ladies of the Belgian Relief Collecting Committee, £lO4l, which was over £3OO better than the collection for April. Several members reported that many of the donors had intimated that they intended to divert their subscriptions to the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund in the future. Although this fund was certainly deserving of first attention, the committee earnestly hoped that the Belgian Fund would not be allowed to suffer to any serious extent, as the need for assistance for the millions of starving and destitute Belgians was greater than ever. In addition to the foregoing, a further sum of £sl 2s fid had been received from Milton, and £64 16s from Port Chalmers, die total net result of the various collections at the Otago A. and P. Show was approximately as follows Luncheon and teas, £273 3s 2d; pony and gig art union, £258 <fs 3d ; flower stall, £155 6s fid; sweets stall, £175 7s 8d; buttons, £57 13s 3d; gate takings. £137 ss; auction sales, £99 12s 5d ; soldiers’ stall, £l5O Os lOd ;—total, £1306 14s Id. Tliis money would bo equally divided between the Belgian Fund and the- Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The total cash that had passed through the hands of the Public Appeal Committee to date for the Belgian Fund had been £15,772. — The report was adopted. Mr Johnstone reported, on behalf of the Queen Carnival Committee, that the support accorded was of a generous nature. The Employment and Relief Committee reported that relief amounting to £725 had been afforded, and that in addition 77 tons of coal had been distributed. Wages amounting to £7636 had been paid. A resolution was also submitted urging pressure to be brought to bear upon the Government in the matter of a war tax. It was further reported that Dr W. Brown had been called upon several times to arrange for medical assistance to relatives of men now at the front. Those cases were all receiving careful attention. — Report adopted. It was decided that the sum of £450, being balance of a, vote of £SOO to the Otago Women’s Patriotic Association, be paid out of the Unconditional Fund. Considerable discussion took place on a motion by Mr Sargood. which had in view the strengthening of the organisation now existing for dealing with necessary assistance to Otago soldiers and sailors and their dependents who were found to be in need of such assistance as the result of the war, and it was eventually resolved, as an amendment; that the question be referred to the 'Expeditionary Force Committee, with which the chairmen of the other committees were associated in the matter.