THE PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 43, 5 June 1917, Page 4

THE PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

REQUIREMENTS FOR MARL BOROUGH SOLDIERS.

GENEROUS DONATIONS,

Speaking at the meeting of the Marlborough Ptariotic Society on Friday (says the “Express”) Mr E. J. Harvey, the honorary treasurer, explained that the Fund being promoted for the benefit of Marlborough Soldiers and their dependents fell far short of the necessary proportions. He based his calculations on the experience that the New Zealand Pensions Board had recorded for the first year of the war. This meant that £3B 6s would have to be raised for each man leaving Marlborough for the front. At the end of the year about 1500 men would have to bo provided for. Working out these figures, £57,000 would be required. Adding these grants for the men in the camps and the trenches the aggregate would •bo £58,000. Approximately £21,000 was in hand. Another £30,000 at. least would have to be raised if justice was to be done to the men who had gone and would go from our midst to fight our battles. He would like to sec an effort made to build the Fund up to this level. The money was in the district; the question was how to get it. Mr Harvey referred to a proposal now before the Patriotic Society to finance soidiets going on the land. He pointed out that under present conditions this would be too big an order. The Fund was not large enough by half to provide in the ordinary way for our soldiers and those who depended on them. Personally he thought that the Government, having put the men on the land, should go the full length and bee that they did not fail for lack of proper assistance. There was also the consideration that if the society snould finance soldier settlers it should also extend the same form of assistance to soldiers who took up businesses.

The suggestions were made that a special committee should be set up to devise ways an 1 means, and that contributions to the Fund should be invited on a plan of payment over a period of three years. The treasurer said that such a plan would suit the purpose. The chairman led off with a promise of £SOO, Mr C. White, Onamalulu, followed with £SOO, and Mr W. Pollard, Delta, with £OOO. Tte following committee was appointed to pursue the movement: — The chairman, Mr C. White, Mr C. W. Parker, Mr W. Pollard, the Mayor of Picton, and Mr E. J. Harvey.