OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 43

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MATING. The third annual meeting of the Otago Patriotio and General Welfare Association •was held at the Town Hall on Thursday •fternoon, the Mayor (Mr W. Begg) presiding, and there being about 20 members present. The annual report stated., inter alia, that the total receipts to date amounted to £507,699 9s 4d. Assistance was willingly given throughout the year to kndred organisations for street collections—-Red Cross Society, Hospital Helpers' Association, Italian Red Cross, French. Red Cross, Kindergarten Association, Y.M.C.A., and Children's Hospital and Convalescent Home Fund. The committee arranged a street collection in aid of the Maori Soldiers' Gift Fund in September, and the money was handed over to the Otago branch of the Lady Liverpool and Mrs Pomare Maori Gift Committee." The committe also organised the street collection for the Mercantile Marine Fund in August. A large consignment of condensed raalk was shipped to Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who controlled the affairs of the committee appointed to look ftfter. New Zealand prisoners of war. The teachers and children of the city and suburban schools were practically responsible for the raising of £526' 2s. _ The usual methods were employed to raise sufficient funds to proceed with the work of the association—street stalls, entertainments, sales, etc A committee of busines men organised a bank of patriotism, and with money available from this source the committee hope to be able to complete their work. A "dolls' emporium" was organised by Miss Armour, a visitor from Glasgow, and from this entertainment the association received over £2OO. The committee thanked the New Zealand War Contingent Association for taking delivery of and attending to the distribution of all goods sent by the Otago and Southland Women's Patriotic Associa-. tion. Business men have again tendered a great deal of support—in money, goods, and advice—and this has assisted the committee, ■who are composed entirely of women, to carry through the year's work successfully. The committee would once again like to point out that all the women connected with the association are voluntary workers. Not one has ever been paid. Everyone has given freely of her best for the cause, end it is small roward to hear that the funds are being used to pay salaries to the workers, many of whom have made real sacrifices to aid the work. Those people who make these statements are requested to look specially at one item in the balance sheet—i.e., money paid for sundry expenses, £4l 12s lid. This item does not point to the likelihood of salaries, either large or small, being paid to any workers. The arrangement found so satisfactory last year of dividing the committee into two, one dealing with soldiers and one with de?endents, has been followed throughout the ear. The number of soldier cases dealt with was 1432, and of dependents 1010, a grand total of 2442—an increase of_ 485 as compared with last year. When it is noted that in 1917-18 only 530 soldier claims were heard, the results of demobilisation on the work of the committees become most apparent. As a natural corollary the amount expended by tho committee has greatly exceeded that of previous years. _ Last year the amount expended on soldiers was £2930 4s lid; this year it. amounts to £BBSO 15s 9d—an increase of £5920 6s lOd. The amount spent _on dependents for a similar period was £12,261 7s; whilo this year it is only

£7529 lis.—a reduction of £4731 16s. The amounts spent for comforts for soldiers overseas during the year (£IBSO 15s 4d) will be a non-recurring charge, and we trust that the recovery of many of the out-

patients at present in hospital will reduoe the expenditure on comforts in hospital here from trie present charge of £951 4s 2d. All Otago and Southland soldiers were given a" gift parcel in the out-going transports, provided by the Otago and Southland Women's Patriotio Association. This parcel contained hand-knitted socks, balaclava, handkerchief, soap bag, sweets, eucalyptus, boot-laces, etc. All surplus parcels in stock at the time of *he armistice were shipped to the New Zealand War Contingent Association, London, for the use of New Zealand troops on furlough before their return to New Zealand. Total despatched, 2848 parcels. The Auckland. Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Southland Associations continued the monthly despatch of gift parcels to troops in Fiance, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. All surplus at the beginning of this year was sent to Major Greene, New Zealand Gift Stores, Southampton, to be distributed amongst New Zealand soldiers on the returning transports. Dominion gift parcels contained food, sweets, tobacco.«and socks, occasionally 25,000 pairs of the latter being included throughout the year. Total despatched, 57,474 parcels. Mrs Harrison Jones and a small group of association workers every month packed and posted some hundreds of parcels for firms and individuals who wished .to send gifts to special soldiers. Throughout the year consignments of shirts and undershirts were sent to the Hospitality Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association (Miss H. Mackenzie, hon._ secretary), and, judging by the acknowledging letters, these were very greatly appreciated. Total despatched: 2966 dayshirts. 1024 undershirts, 1919 pairs socks, 404 balaclavas, 137 scarves, 212 pairs cuffs. On the recommendation of the Soldiers' Welfare Committee parcels of warm underclothing (shirts, undershirts, socks, and handkerchiefs, and in some cases pyjamas) are supplied to returned men. One thousand five hundred end sixty-six soldiers received parcels during the year. A corner of the Early Settlers' Hall has been set apart for soldiers, who are always given a hearty welcome. Different members of the committee attend every afternoon to give afternoon tea to any soldiers who care to come in. Mrs Macfie still acts for the association in attending to the , requirements of our soldiers in the Dunedin Hospital. Pie 3 and puddings have been sent in regularly every week and grateful thanks are due to Mrs E. <!. Reynolds Mrs Sire for taking the responsibility of gettfng the necessary supply. ■ The farewells to the reinforcements were given regularly as long as there woro reinforcements gomtr forward. One or two short speeches, music, supper, {irK l dan"V"r \yrvr. (4,-. r.r,W «f pn^T+'iin. ment. and the evenings were thoroughly enjoyed bv the men who were leaving for camp the following day, They were always attended in larcre numbers bv the southern ?uota, which spent the night in Dunedin. he usual Christmas gift of tobacco (401 b) was despatched to tho soldiers in Samoa.

In conjunction with the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, members assisted to gather baby olothes for the use of children of British soldiers and sailors. Theso were shipped at intervals by the association. Cases of comforts,, preserved fruit biscuits, sweets, etc, were put on board both the Maheno and Marama in charge of the chaplain, for distribution amongst the sick soldiers on the return journey. Total, 59 cases. Thirtythree cases of syrup, jam, cake, sweets, etc, were placed on board outgoing transports. Christmas gifts of cake were also sent to Featherston Camp, Palmerston Sanatorium, Anzao House, Karitane, Seacliff, and the Dunedin Hospital. The Mayor moved the adoption of the report and balance sheet, which he said he had not an opportunity to peruse owing to absence from town. He dwelt upon the excellent work that had been done, and said he understood that the association was in a sound financial He was afraid he would not be able to give just as much attention to tho affairs of tho association as Mr Clark had done, but ho had an assurance from Mr Clark that he would assist in every possible way. The Mayor to speak in high terms of the magnificent work done by the ladies, and referred to that morning as an instance of how they had not hesitated to keep to the post in the case of men returning from the war. Mr J. J. Clark seconded tho motion, and said that on looking back everyone connected with the association would feel proud that they had been able to do something, and in many oases a great deal, in the way of help. Last year there had not been any great probloms to deal with. He advocated the compilation of a record of what Otago had done in connection with the war;_ and coming to the expenditure of money, pointed out that Otago had raised £367,009, of which £116,148 had been sent overseas. The main work had, of course, been done in connection with the Soldiers and Dependents' Welfare Committee. Within tho 12 months there had been 2442 cases in which claims had been made. The amount spent on soldiers last year was £2930, while this year it had risen to £BBso—an increase of practically £6OOO. There had been a decrease in the amount granted to dependents owing to a more generous treatment by the Government and a cessation of men leaving New Zealand. The association had not been forgetful of the men overseas, and £IBSO had been sent, and it had tried to do its best for soldiers returned invalided and in hospital. In this connection £951 had been spent to provide additional comforts for tho men in hospital. The details were: tobacco £506 19s 3d, fruit, groceries, etc, £204 7s. 9d; taxi hire, £132 6s 3d; sports and games, £59 sd; literature, £32 17s_ lid; and music, £ls 8s 7d. The association _ had worked in hearty co-operation with the Motor Olub in carrying the men from the station to their homes, and the Motor Club had done splendid worlc The. biggest question was the subsidising of pensions. Many women were receiving the maximumi pension, and had nothing to live on but 15s, and the committee had felt impelled to see that such women got assistance. The committee had also had to help men in receipt of pensions who were not able to do work, and who the committee was satisfied cotild not provide • for themselves. He would like to_ pay _ a tribute to tho Women's Association, which had • done splendid work. —(Applause.) He did not think they could speak too highly of the magnificent work done by the Women's Association. The defence authorities, both local and in Wellington, had to be thanked for their oourtesy and. anxiety to help, even though the association had not always seen eye to eye with ' them. They were pleased to see their secretary (Mr Wright) back after his long service at the front.

Mc S. Solomon, K.C., said it would interest members if they could see the working of the committees which had dealt with 6uch large sums of money throughout the campaign. They would notice that during -the year £BSOO had been spent in assisting soldiers, and £7500 to dependents. No one. unless actually engaged in 'the work, could form any idea of the vast amount of relief and comfort tho association had been able to afford. This year 1450 soldiers had boen assisted, which was an averse of 30 per week, and during the last portion of the year there had been 60 soldiers per week. He was delighted to_ have an opportunity of paying his tribute to the ladies connected with'the Women's Association. In conclusion, Mr Solomon referred to the good work done by the acting secretary Mr W. B. Steel. Miss Stewart referred to the wonderful support the Women's Association had had from the branches. Last year they had congratulated themselves upon their economy, for they had run their work they reckoned at an average of 1 3-sd. This year they found they had reduced the expenditure to" 1 2-sd. They felt that they had not wasted much money. Tlieir work now lay chiefly among the returning soldiers.

The Hon. J. T. Paul said it was frequently borne in upon him that a number of returned soldiers hesitated to come before the Soldiers' Committee for assistance because they still had an idea the assistance granted was charity. No part of the examination was inquisitorial, and, instead of assistance granted being charity, it was an inadequate recognition of the great work done by the man.

The motion was carried. The following office-bearers were elected: President, the Mayor (Mr W. Begg); vicepresident, Mr J. J. Clark; treasurer, Mr G. A. Lewin; executive —Messrs A. B. Armour, James Begg, J. B. Shacklock, Rev. Father Coffey, Mr R. Conn, the Rev. F. G. Cumming, Messrs G. L. Denniston, George Fenwick, Dean Fitchett, Dr Fulton, Mr R. W. Glendining, Dr Harrison, Mr E. C Hazlett, Messrs James Horn, John Loudon, M. M'Allen, J. C. M'George, P. M'Skimming, the Hon. J. T. Paul, Messrs J. L. Salmond, O. R. Smith, S. Solomon, K. 0., Charles Speight, Lieuten-ant-colonel Stoneham, and Mr D. E. Theomin; representatives on the Soldiers' Committee—Messrs J. J. Clark, C. Speight, E C. Hazlett, and Lieutenant-colonel Stoneham; Finance Committee —the Mayor, Messrs J. B. Shaddock. O. Speight, O. R. Smith, D. E. Theomin, R. W. Glendining, and G. L. Denniston.

Tho question of whether the association should in future meet monthly or quarterly was left to next meeting of tho executive to decided, tho date for tho meeting .fixed upon being the third Monday in June.