SOLDIERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 57

SOLDIERS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS.

WORK OF THE PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION. ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION 7 OF FUNDS. A special meeting of the executive of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association was held at the Town Hall on Monday morning to consider the report of tho special committee with regard to strengthening tho existing organisation to deal with soldiers and their dependents. Tho Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presided. The report submitted was rattier lengthy, but, as will be seen later on, it is not necessary to quote it. Mr J. A. Jonnstone said that as chairman of tho Queen Carnival Committee ho had been asked to introduce a deputation consisting of representatives of the various Queen Committees, and also of representatives from some of the country districts. The purpose of their visit was to discuss tho question of the administration of tho wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and particularly the question of the representation on tho committee that would have to be set up to do the work. They naturally felt that as they were the persons chiefly responsible for the raising of the funds they should know how and by whom the money would bo administered, and he understood that they had some recommendations to make in connection therewith.

In stating that the executive would be pleased to Hear tho deputation, the Mayor said that they were anxious to include tho whole of Otago in the matter of tho administration of the land. He would like the members of the deputation to understand that the executive was not in any way antagonistic to them, and was only too pleased to consult with them. Mr H. L. Taploy. tho first speaker, after indicating tho views of a meeting of the chairmen of the various groups of the Queen Carnival, said that tho deputation did not come forward in any dictatorial spirit, but was acting entirely in the interests of the wounded solders. The meeting had unanimously decided that tho Queen Carnival Committee should have representation on any committee set up to administer the fund

Mr A. S. Malcolm, M.P., who represented South Otago, said that it would be advie. able to have a very email executive to administer the fund. Ho suggested three members from Dunedin, one from South Otago, and one from North Otago. Ho hoped that it would bo found possible to establish boards of advice throughout the province, and he thought that a good deal of rcsponsiblity should be thrown upon those boards. The country people wore desirous of having adequate representation, and there could not be a united Otago unless that was done.

The Mayor of Balclutha (Mr D. Stewart) also impressed the necessity of country representation. Mr J. A. Johnstone said that before the deputation loft there was just one point he would like to mention. He understood that there was a doubt in the minds of some of the members of the deputation as to the working of the association, and also that a large" section of the public were under the same difficulty. They were not sure whether there was ‘any connection between the association and the Queen Carnival people, the Public Appeal Committee, the Belgian Relief Committee, and a number of other committees that wt?re in operation. He would, therefore, like to say once again, and he hoped the press representatives would make the point clear in their reports, that all of these organisations in Dunedin were off-shoots of the association, and were responsible to the executive. The Queen Carnival campaign, for instance, was controlled by a committee of four members °f the association, together with the two organisers, Mr Barnett and Mr Johnson, and it was directly responsible to the Central Executive of the Otago Patriotic Association. All the other committees were linked up with the Central Executive in the same way, and there was. therefore, not the slightest fear of confusion or overlapping taking place provided that that method of organisation was continued, as he thought it would be. After the deputation had withdrawn, the Mayor remarked that the simplest way to approach the matter would bo for him to move, the adoption of the report submitted by the sub-committee, and this he formally did, suggesting that the clauses be taken seriatim. The motion was seconded pro forma by Mr Sargood. The Rev. R, S. Cray submitted the following amendment:--“"That the .whole t : on of the appointment of the Soldiers Welfare Committee and the administration of the fund bo referred to a_ special conference, consisting of his Worship the Mayor (chairman), six representatives from the Otago Patriotic and Welfare Association, four fiom the central executive of the Otago Queen Carnival, and the two organisers of that carnival, three representatives from the local groups of the Queen Carnival, and two representatives each from North Otago. South Otago, and Central Otago.” Mr Gray said that when the Expeditionary Force Committee was originally appointed it was not contemplated that it would have the administration of the permanent fund for the help of the returned soldiers and their dependents. The matter had assumed such dimensions, however, that it was necessary to appoint to that committee men of outstanding fitness, and also' to give the country districts full representation. He was of opinion that it would save time not to discuss the details of the report submitted, but to refer the whole matter without prejudice to a special conference. Mr G. Fenwick seconded the motion. Mr R. Breen objected to the absence of Labour representation. Labour had had representation on every eomniitteo set up in connection with the patriotic movement. Mr Johnstone expressed the opinion that it did not matter what the conference consisted of. Their object was to work harmoniously in the interests of those to be benefited by the fund. Mr Gray’s motion was carried, and the following six representatives of the Patriotic and General Welfare Association wore appointed delegates to the conference: —Messrs R. Breen, G( Fenwick. G. L. Denniston. A. Stoncham, F. G. Gumming, and the Rev. R. S. Gray.

It was resolved that until the conference met the Expeditionary Force Committee, together with Mr Gumming, administer the funds, the opinion being expressed that the Relief Committee not appear prominently in connection with any committee

set up to assist wounded soldiers, and that any help given to wounded soldiers should not be in the nature of charity. It was decided torot tuc sum of £250 to the Queen Carnival Committee to meet current expenses, and the Mayor and Mr Sargood were appointed to confer with tho Women’s Patriotic Association with regard to the administration of the money collected by them during the Winter Show.