DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15318, 14 September 1920, Page 2

DEFENCE COMMITTEE.

The fortnightly meeting of the Citizens' Defence Committee was held yesterday afternoon. Present- Mes-.r- W. G. Sherratt (chairman), J. R. TJvo.,rihmr.t, H. Konway, f!. B. Oman, T). .{. Barry, G. Stdck> Jt. Robertson, ](„ M. Birrell, G. W. Humphreys, G. Darton, J. Nisbett, D. W. Colemifn, H. White, and C. H. Bridge. In reference to the committee's decisior to hold over tho question of its quota of contribution to the Blinded Soldiers Fund until legislation, relating to the matter should he brought clown, the '.secretary of the Advisory .Board of thr Patriotic. War Relief Association's Federation wrote stating that it was nol proposed to set up any separate organisation, for the administration of this tund. and therefore no further legislation wa. necessary. The Minister of Interior's refusal to recognise or authorise a schenu such as suggested by Mr Clutha Mac; kenzie to be administered by a new organisation, did not affect the proposa: m. the Advisory Board's hands, which did not require a new organisation, but would be administered by Patriotic Societies through a body of trustees appointed by them. The Government wasprepared to :enconrage the provision foi social -intercourse among the blindeu soldiers, m order to make, their lives an. cheerful and interesting as possible, anc it;; seemed only reasonable that all societies should contribute to a fund with this spbject m view.— The chairman said he thought the policy of the committee was to meet the care of wounded soldiers; and came under that head.— Mr Coleman ' suggested that +.ho sense of the letter was that no new organisation was to be formed. Evidently the committee had misunderstood the previous letter of the Board.— Mr Humphreys remarked that the committee had already, agreed to pay its quota to the fund.— Mr Wildish 6aid the Advisory Board was going to conserve the fund of £10,000, for a period of five years, in' the meantime using the Commercial Travellers' Fund.. The . local quota, on a population basis, was .estimated 1 at £196, and • the committeo had agreed to pay this quota. — Mr Humphrey, moved .'that the quota be paid.— Mr Coleman seconded the motion, which wascarried. l"ho Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association advised the appointment as delegate to the committee of Mr G. Darton.— Received. Th© chairman saiod ihst lhe Women's Patriotic Committee wished to hand over for investment with the committee funds the sum of £800, : being balance m hand of the funds -raised for the Women's Patriotic 'Committee, during the war.— The chairman moved' that the amount be accepted .with thanks, , Mr , Barry seconding # 'the: motion was ' carried. The chairman moved that an advertisement be inserted m. the- pfipers, advising that the committee had funds for invests ment for a term of' years. — Mr Wildish seconded the motion. — Carried. MrYWildish brought up the question of representation of , bodies on the ncwlycoristituted committee, where m the* past the; -representation , had been confined to one;— The chairman took it for granted that m such a case the body would retain. ;its ono representative, as they: • obviously could not halve him. Mr Stock, referring to the new constitution which would shortly come into force, said "he- did> not intend to; stand for re-election to the committee, and that thus this would bo his last meeting. He wished to say, therefore, that though he had had his " differences with members of the committee; -he wished them/ to understand that there was nothing personal m them., He* had no personal feel-* ing ;in these differences, and if he. had unwittingly given offence, Jio wished to express his unreserved regret.— Mr Wildish said he had bad his own brushes with Mr Stock, but. he felt no ill-will at all m tliom, and ho' fully recognised the value of Mr Stock's work.— Ou the motion .of Mr G. W.- Humphreys, a raotion of appreciation ' of- Mr Stock's services was placed on the minutes, of • the meeting. The chairman, said that as one of tho trustees ho- supposed, ho. himself would be more or less connected with the -committee until- itdissolution, but he would' not unfortunately bo able to take an active part m its meetings. He was certain, however, that ho would jjlwayb bo on hand to do whair -was best m the interests of the wounded soldiers. ■ / Mi H. Kenway endorsed the remarks of : the chairman. Mrfßirrell • proposed a vqte of heartfelt condolence to the wife and family of the' late Mr- W. D. S. Mao Donald . 'to whose, work for the returned soldiers the speaker' paid a deep tribute. . The motion was honored m silence, all members standing' -'' MP— — — — JlM—