PATRIOTIC AND WELFARE ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3612, 5 June 1923, Page 9

PATRIOTIC AND WELFARE ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL MEETING. I’lie annual meeting of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association was held in the Council Chambers on Thursday morning Mr J. J- Cianc (wee-presiien) presded over a fair attendance of members. The Chairman moved the adoption ot the report of the Soldiers’ and Dependents Welfare Committee. He stated that on the present oeasicn they had thought- tv vs. to place before members facts and iigmes covering the whole of the eight years since the setting up of this c-onrirr.ttee Ic »sould be seen that during that time 12.060 soldiers and dependents had applied to the committee for assistance and the stun of £l ’ tb C” had been spent in helping them lie thought those figures should be quite sufhcfenf to remove the impression m some minds that the money 7 was being stored up ancl not used for the benefit or tm sctaw s. Thev had tried to see- tnat no deret vm „ case which came within the scope of the committee was turned down and to co all possible to help .the soldier and his de pendents.. Continuing,. -‘ r Llat-v ~md that the association ha a ° y.,V a nd on soldiers in hospital in M ; After an investigation it had been found desirable to hand this work to the Red Cross Society and that society had now unde taken it and was doing it w ell Dm mg tne past year the committee had dealt with 845 applications for assistance, thus showing that the need still existed for tnem to continue their ministrations. He cold tally endorsed what Mr Dough* had said x* speeding their two visitors. Mrs Park and Miss Runciman, and assured these two ladies that the work which they were dong so faithfully and so unostentatiously, was warmly recognised by the members oi tne committee. The committee also had a good deal of work to perform as the representative of the War Funds Council, and the Wool Growers’ Fund, and their thanks wore due in particular to the later body which had dealt generously with all cases brought under its notice. The expenses of the association were being steadily reduced and thev hoped that there would be a still further saving this year. In the matter of administrative expenses the Otago Association occupied the enviable position of being the least costly of any of the large associations—a result that was largely due to the great amount of voluntary assistance which they received. ... Mr IT. I/. Tapley seconded the motion, and said that as Mayor of the city he

wished to thank the members of the Executive Committee for the splendid work which they were performing. Mr A. C. Laing, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, said that his association had also been endeavouring to secure the publication of the report of the Pensions’ Committee, but without avail, lie heartily echoed the sentiments of file previous speakers regarding the lady 7 visiters. The motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —President, the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley) ; vice-presi-dent, Mr J. J. Clark; Executive Committee—Sir George Fenwick, Messrs D. E. Theomin, J. Loudon, Chas. Speight, P. Solomon. J. T. Paul. J. L. Salmond. R. W. Glendiiining, R. Conn. E. A. Rosevear, A. B. Armour. James Begg. G. L. Donniston. E. C. Hazlett, J. C. M‘George, P. M'Skini tiling, jun., j. B. Shack lock, C. R. Smith. Jas. Hern. Wm. Begg, A. Geddes. J. 3. ' Douglas. A. C. Laing, Dr Fulton, and the Rev. lb G. Gumming; lion, treasurer, Mr G. A. Bewin ; secretary, Mr E. R. Grace. The Finance Committee was re-elected as follows: —Mr G. L. Denmston, the Mayor. Messrs J. B. Sbackioek. R. \\ . G lend inning O. R. Smith, C. Speight, and D. E. Theomin. Messrs J. J. Chirk. C. Speight, R. W. Glendiiining, and' J. Loudon were re-elected to act with the following life members of the Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Welfare Committee: —Messrs J. 1.. Salmond. S. Solomon. J. T. Paul, Jas. Begg, P. M’Skimming, Jas. Horn, and A. B. Armour. Mr Th Semin referred in complimentary terms to the highly efficient manner in which Mr Lew in, despite his countless other duties, fulfilled the functions of treasurer. On his motion Air Lewin was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks by acclamation. Sir George Fenwick said he thought they should recognise in a similar manner the enormous amount of work clone by the Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Committee, and he moved accordingly. Mr Douglas, in supporting the motion, expressed his high appreciation of the work done on this committee by Air Clark. The motion was carried. The Mayor made appropriate reference to the death of Father Coffey while ho was abroad, stating that he, was one of the original members of the committee, and that, he had always been an active worker. The meeting paid a tribute of resnect to the memory’ o: Father Coffey by standing in silence.