PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3227, 19 January 1916, Page 52

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

MINISTER'S INVITATION DECLINED. AUCKLAND, January 14. The invitation to a conference which has been issued by the Minister of Internal Affairs to the various patriotio societies has been declined by the executive of the Auckland War Relief Association. It has decided to reply that the association has already taken steps to arrange for a conference of kindred associations with the view of establishing uniformity of action throughout the dominion, and therefore it considers that the date of the conference, as suggested bv the Minister (die first week in February), is premature. Discussing the matter to-night, the Mayor said that it would be absolutely a_ wasto of time to attend the conference, which would prove abortive, as several similar conferences had clone. When the societies were prepared to discuss matters from a reciprocal standpoint Auckland would be ready to co-operate with all the other patriotic organisations of the dominion. In the meantime Auckland had better keep clear of undue departmental interference. . THE GOVERNMENT'S DUTY. WELLINGTON, January 11. The Executive Committee of the Wellington War Relief Association met to-day, Mr W. Ferguson presiding. The chairman and secretary and the Mayor of Wellington were empowered to deal with emergency cases. The Chairman stated that the Christchurch War Relief Association had sent the Wellington Patriotic Society a list showing the amounts each had received during the month. Hia opinion, however, was that the list should not give such particulars, as the fund was not a charitable one, but the matter of issuing lists required consideration, in order that they might avoid overlapping. Mr Hill cited a case in which a man had drawn upon no fewer than live societies. Several members expressed tho opinion that co-ordination between the different societies to prevent overlapping was very necessary; but the association decided to allow the matter to stand over until it had been considered by the National Conference of the associations being convened by the Minister of Internal Affairs. The committee then considered a letter received by the Mayor from the Minister of Public Health, requesting that the War Relief Association should assist in providing funds for the equipment of the Rotorua Convalescent Home for sick and wounded soldiers. The chairman said that he thought that it was just as much tho duty of tho Government to provide tho equipment for the convalescent home as to provide the home itself. He felt that the Government was getting far too much into the habit of providing the bare minimum required by the Imperial Army regulations in such matters._ Tho Government provided the bare minimum of equipment for tho soldiers going to tho front, and _ the same for the officers, leaving the provision, even f>f such very necessary articles as field glasses and compasses, to the general public, and now tho Government was carrying the principlo into the matter of san itoria, etc., just providing tho minimum—the bare walls,-—and asking the general publio to find the necessary equipment. It was decided to inform the Minister that the association could not accede to tho request.

SOUTH CANTERBURY WAR BELIEF SOCIETY. TIMARU, January 14. At a meeting of tho South Canterbury War Relief Society it was reported that of tho £35,000 relief fund to do subscribed within throe years, £25,000 had been re-

coivod, and £22,800 hud been invested. It was decided to raise the total to £50,000, especially by an appeal to "financial shirkers" who have not yet given. It was resolved to telegraph to the Prime Minister offering the services of the committee in the recruiting scheme. ANZAC SOLDIERS' CLUB. At a general meeting of the above club, held at the Club House, Moray place, recently, the following office-bearers were appointed:- President, Mr Win. Patrick; vicepresidents—Mr F. Calvert and Dr Fulton; committee —Messrs D. J. {"'alder, dames Connor. A. A. Finch, W. J. Guthrie, dames A. Park, E. 0. Reynolds, W. Taine, and O. G. White, lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr P. Mirams.

The committee desires to gratefully acknowledge receipt of the following cash and donations in kind since last report:—Otago High School Sports Committee, £25; R. G. Baxter, £5 ss; Chas. Rattray, £5; C. 11. Statham, £2 2s; Overseas Club, billiard table and accessories complete; Brown, Ewing and Co. (Ltd.), linoleum for billiard and other rooms arid stair carpets; Union Steam Ship Company, _ ice chest; Mrs Coughlan and Roslyn friends, gramophone record cabinet; G. and T. Young, marble clock; Tattersiicld and Co., dinner ware; Bristol Piano Company, gramophone needles; Women's Patriotic Association, garden chair; Mrs Lee Smith, armchair and cushion; iStone, Son, and Co., Directory, 1916; Victoria League, coloured portrait of King George V; F. Calvert, flagpole; Mrs Roberts, flag; Mrs A. Smellie, two pairs curtains; G. A. Findlay, salivator; Mr Woods (City Hotel), two match stands and trays; Mrs W. Barron, music stand; Miss Hume, iced cake; "Anonymous," one case fruit; Mr Kilroy, quantity of fruit; Mrs Watson, picturesque atlas and sets of draughts; Private Syd. Sehofield and Mr Brewer, gramophone records; Miss Smith, cushions; Mr Woodhouse, cigars. Contributions of books and magazines have been received from the following:—Green Island Women's Association. Mrs F. Bastings, Mrs Sherman, Mrs Campbell Gillies, Gordon and Gotch. Mr Woods. Mrs Webster, Mr Haslefct, Mrs R. G. Baxter. Mr A. Kilroy, Mrs Keith Ramsay, and Mr Walden. The number of soldier members now recorded is 421, an increase of 191 since the report on December 10.

AMONG THE MISSING. PAHIATUA, January 14. Mr L. T. Herbert, a business man, has received advice from London that his brother Frank, an officer in Persia, is among the missing. Pie was for over 30 years in tho service, and visited Pahiatua a year ago. Another brother, Lieut.-colonel Herbert, is at tho front.