DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14711, 17 September 1918, Page 8

DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

Tho. Citizens' Defence Committee met yesterday afternoon. Present: Messrs. VV. G. Sherratt (chairman). H. Kenwav. .('. S. Wa.ueh.op, (J. P.. Oman. R. M. nirrell, G. ( . Munns, (*. Wildish, D. W. Coleman, \V. J. Sinclair, G. W. Humphreys;, E. J. Williams, R. D. Dymock. C. A. Fen wick, J. W. Bright. If. C. Gaddutn. R. Fletcher; Runciman, K. .1. White. G. \l. Reynolds. W. lies, 11. A. White, A. If" Wallis. D. •X lUirry, G._. Stock, and W. Pitt. " Mr 11. R.I Simeon wrote pointing oiu that a. further supply of cane had been teceived from Auckland .m connection with, the instruction of returned soldier inmates m the art of basket making, and he urged the erection of a room for the manufacture' of basket uml rattan chairs.

In connection with above matter W. J. Sufihiwnes. on behalf of his fellow patients, wrote requesting that Mr. Simeon's services he retained for a further period. — Mr Munns moved that it !■* .'.it to a Claims Committee with power to act. — Mr 1). W. Coleman see-i.-.ided.- -This was carried.

The Advisory Board notified tliat the .second instalment to the Common Regimental Fund ;(£9B) was due. — Payment authorised.

A telegram was received from Mr Shiillgross (of the, Advisory Board) to •Die effect that the date for the next meeting of the Advisory Board had not been fixed, but would m all probability he held m- Auckland m October. — Received.

The financial .statement revealed the following receipts for the fortnight ending September 16th : — Mrs E. Kenway, Red Cross fund, £2; Mr H. Kenwav, Wounded Soldiers' fund. £2; Mr Chas. ■ Mayston (nu-.nthly) General fund. £2; "O. J. 8.,". General £2. Wounded Soldiers £7; "E.L.8.," Wounded Soldiers'. £2 ; net proceeds from picture . show. General fund, £14 2s Id.; Rev. F. W. ' Chatterton (monthly) Genera,! fund, £1;' 11. R. Simeon (refund allowance for m- ' struc'ting wounded soldiers m basketniaking), £2; E. F. M. Burgess, Wounded! Soldiers' and Sailors' fund, ,£2; Mr E. Cameron (proceeds of refund for. trespassing m orchard), Wounded Sold;:■»■&' funa, fl 10s; Defence Department,! £3; Mr J, Townley (monthly), General fund, £2; Postmaster, Tokoinai-u 7 Bay, refund, £3; total, £44 12s Id. The expenditure for the sajne period 'amounted to £54 18s 4_d. In respect to the ruling of Mr H. Ken. May at. the last meeting of the Citizens' .Defene© Committee when !ke declared out ol order a. motion of Mr D. '""W. Coleman to invite three returned soldiers to sit on the committee, on the grounds i that it was against the regulations of the Society wliich limited the number ! of membership to 31, Mr Coleman at -yesterday's meeting tasked the ruling of the, chairman (Mr'W.-G. Sherratt) m t'lw mat tor-. The clia.irma.ni said tliat m regard to Mr Coleman's motion he had already given a. ruling some time ago, which was the same as that given by Mr Kenway at the last meeting. Mr Wildish: I want to know. whether I am m order m moving that, Mr Long should .be appointed on the committee. J Mr Kenway explained his reason fori ruling as> he did on the matter. He said j . the motion moved by Mr Wildish at the last meeting was a courteous way of! getting round the ruling; which he (as dhairman) had given. The chairman said the motion was quite m order. The committee could elect anyone to be a member who was a. member of any body, provided there was a vacancy. Mr Wildish :-' There is a vacancy. Mr Kenway stated tliat Mr Wildish had been good enough to admit that he was trying to get round the ruling. The chairman : Major Fletcher is a returned soldier, and he was appointed to the committee. Mr Lange can. bo appointed m the same .way as. a private citizen. \ Mr Wildish : Major Fletcher is not a representative of the Returned Sol- 1 diera' Association. Mr Wildish moved, and' Mr Coleman seconded, that Mr Lange be appointed. and this was carried by 16 votes to three. $■ '

Mr Munns said that he could not understand the. position taken by some members m regard to returned soldiers. The committee seemed to be afraid of allowing members of the R.S.A. to sit.