Southland Patriotic Committee

Southland Times, Issue 17664, 23 February 1916, Page 2

Southland Patriotic Committee

POSITION OF FUNDS MEWED General Outline ®S Work Done At tiie meeting of the Southland Patriotic Committee held last night the Chairman, Mr A. W. Rodger, presented the following statement with regard to the various funds administered by the Patriotic Committee. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, — It will be within your recollection that a Statement of Accounts setting out the transactions of the Committee from the inception of the war to the 23rd Jnne, 1915, together with the then chairman’s (Mr Hunt’s) remarks thereon were submitted and approved at a meeting held on the 9th August last, and that such Statement and Report were printed in extenso in the newspapers as well as being distributed in pamphlet form amongst the public. The secretary will be pleased to hand or forward to anyone desiring it a copy of the pamphlet referred to. The further Statement of Accounts now before you covers the period from 34th June to 31st December, 1915. That these Statements are made up to the end of the year has been made necessary by the Minister of Internal Affairs under powers vested in him by the War Funds Act, 1915, otherwise the accounts would have been closed on the 30th September last and submitted to you as soon as possible thereafter. The Accounts at present being administered by the Committee are as follows : 1. Expeditionary Force Fund* 2. Belgian Relief Fund. 3. British Relief Fund. *4. Returned and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. 5. Montenegrin and Serbian Relief Fund. 6. Southland War Fund. * This Fund is entirely distinct from the Qneen Carnival Fund raised for Wounded Soldiers, Sailors and their Dependents, every penny of which is invested and will not be administered until the organisation of the Southland War Funds Association is complete. SOUTHLAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FUND.—3lst Dec., 1915. RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE. £ s. cl. £ S. d. Balance 24th June, 1915 ~ 2904 16 0 Amount voted to 3 Nurses Cash collected 326 12 9 £ls each 45 0 0 Hot Water Baths at Trentharn . . .. . . .. 50 0 0 Purchase of Wool .. .. 2 92 6 9 Mittens 5 0 0 Wool Plaidlng and Sundries 101 15 7 Revolver Holster . . 1116 Razors and Scissors .. ~ 2 14 0 Hotel Board for Trooper' .. 0 IS 0 Side Drums and Tambourines, etc 21 13 TO Cheque Book and Stamps 2 5 5 Leather Bag . . .. . . 10 0 Cartage, Advertising, Printing, and Painting Signs, etc. 2S 11 0 Secretarial Expenses .. 30 0 0 Quarterly quota Wellington Committee .... 12 10 0 Half Railway Fare to Trooper . . .. .. 2 11 8 Freight on case to Wellington 1 7 9 Temporary Advances to Troopers .. .. .. 71 0 0 Dental Work 75 1 0 Cost of cables High Commissioner and Major Mitchell 7 S 10 Liverpool Band Instruments (proportion of cost) 25 0 0 Binoculars and Compasses 71 6 2 Beds, Spoons and Forks 12 3 6 Cricket Material .... 15 0 0 Sword .. .. . ° • • 22 0 Refund of Payment to Soldiers’ Christmas Gifts (Manawatu Comm.) . . 100 0 0 Minister of Internal Affairs Xmas Gift Fund .. 400 0 0 Allowance National Reserve Recruiting Committee 10 0 0 Proportion of cost of Waistcoats (Otago Patriotic Commi.) .. .. 381 7 6 Troopers’ Wages (Recruiting Office) 28 5 0 Vote to Salvation Army Military Camp exs. .. 100 0 0 Rent of Theatre (lecture) 4 18 0 Rent Tuatapere Hall (recruiting) 0 10 0 Advance from Belgian Fund Refunded .. .. 50 0 0 Balance 31st, Dec,, 1915 .. 1338 6 3 £5231 8 9 £3231 S 9 Dealing with the Expeditionary Force Fund* The balance at 24tlx June last was £2904 16s. Contributions received between that date and 31st December amounted to £326 12s 9d, making a total of £3231 8s 9d. The disbursements during the period under review as set out in the Statement before you aggregate £1843 2s 6d and the sum of £SO borrowed from the Belgian Relief Fund to save interest, and referred to in last Report was paid back, bringing the total paid out up to £1893 2s 6d, which leaves a balance at the credit of the account of £1338 6s 3d. Against this credit there is a contingent charge (which was also referred to in the previous Report) for equipment ordered in England. This was done through the Otago Patriotic Committee and while such Committee has rendered an account there are certain adjustments necessary which are-still in abeyance. As the Government is, as time goes on, more fully recognising its responsibilities in regard to the equipment of the soldiers, including officers and nurses the calls, apart from the extra gifts which are made principally by the Ladies of the Committee, are getting less numerous and onerous, but funds are needed for the purchase of wool and other material which the ladies make up into useful gifts. The total receipts on account of the Expeditionary Force Fund from the beginning of the war to 31st December last were £6083 15s lOd, while the outgoings amounted to £4745 9s 7d, leaving the before-mentioned balance of £1338 6s 3d. BELGIAN RELIEF FUND.—3lst December, 1915. RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE. £ s. 0- £ a, cl. Balance 24th June, 1915 2536 12 7 Southland’s quota to Fund Cash collected 4326 4 7 (seven months) .. .. 1841 15 10 Refund from Expedition- Special Remittance per De- ' ary Force Fund .. 50 0 0 partment of Internal Affairs 2000 0 0 Printing and Advertising 65 8 0 Secretarial Expenses .. 37 10 0 I Cartage and Stamps .. 4 13 0 ! Union Jack 0 12 6 , Insurance 1 36 6 ‘ Gas . . . . 1 !) 6 I Balance 33st Dec.. 3 915 .. 2959 3 3 I £6912 17 2 1 £6912 37 2 Of the monies received by the Committee between the dates covered by these accounts the sum of £4326 4s 7d was ear-marked by the donors for Belgian Relief, and this sum together with the £SO transferred from the Expeditionary Force Fund, as already explained, added to the balance as at 24th June last, viz., £2536 12s 7d, makes a total of £69.12 17s 2d to be dealt with. Southland’s quota to the arrangements made by the Government .varies from month to month with a maximum of £294 and the total contributions under this scheme, as shown by the Statement in your hands, was £lß4l 15s lOd. In addition the sum of £2OOO was forwarded for like purposes through the Department of Internal Affairs. Other detailed expenditure which does not seem to me to call for special remark brings the aggregate disbursements for the period up to £3953 6s Id, which left the available balance at 31st December at £2959 11s Id. That a considerable sum should be left undisbursed is desirable for two reasons ; (I) The contributions to the Belgian Relief Fund have, during the last few months, been steadily diminishing, and it is necessary to ensure that wc shall not fail in providing our monthly quota under the Government arrangement, and (2) That in view of the’ fact that such quota is subsidised to the extent of £1 for £1 by the Government and no other monies remitted are added to in any way it is in the best interests of those for whom the money is intended that it should reach them through that channel. Southland collections for the Belgian Relief Fund during the length of the war to 31st December have reached the splendid total of £15,309 16s 7d. Of this sum £12,133 5s 4d has been forwarded to the Belgian sufferers either direct, through the Department of Internal Affairs, or through the Salvation Army, and the administrative expenses, etc., account for £217 0s 2d, which leaves the available balance of £2959 11s Id as stated. BRITISH RELIEF FUND.—3lst December, 1915. £ s. cl., £ s, (3, Balance 24th June, 193 5 .. 3 17 6 6 | Secretarial Expenses .... 7 30 t! Cash collected 3 57 0 2 ; British Relief per Depart- ; mont of Internal Affairs -10!) 0 n Ba I arise 31st Lee., 1915 .. r.7 36 >; £474 S I 1 £4<4 8 3

The British Relief Fund Account shows that at 24th June, 1915, there was a credit balance of £317 6s 6d, and that during the period under review £157 Os 2d was added thereto by collections, making a total of £474 6s Sd. Of this amount £409 was remitted to London through the Department of Internal Affairs and the Fund was charged with £7 10s as its proportion of the secretarial expenses, leaving a balance of £57 16s Sd still in hand. As was the case when the last Report was presented the committee has no official information that would indicate that funds are urgently needed for relief purposes in Great Britain. For the British Relief Fund a total sum of £1340 5s Sd has been collected since the outbreak of war; £1259 of this has been forwarded to London and .'2 23 9s represents the administration expenses, leaving the sum of £57 16s Sd undealt with as above. RETURNER AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS’ FUND.—3lst Dec., 1915. RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE. £ s. d.| £ s. cl. Balance 24th June, 1015. . OOS 7 8 , Amount Handed to Chap-, Cash collected .. .. •• 1104 7 2 ] plain Major Dutton for Disbursement .... 200 0 0 Soldiers’ Dependents Belief 40 15 0 Relief to Tropers .... 74 3 7 Secretarial Expenses .. 25 0 0 Stamps 0 5 0 Typist 5 0 0 Pistol .. .. .. 710 0 Wages and Cartage . • .. 3 0 0 Sox and Boots 4 5 6 Minister Internal Affairs towards Equipment of Hanmer Springs Hospital 250 0 0 Vote Motor Ambulance for Southland .. • • 100 0 0 Insurance 0 It C Gas .. .. . . .. . • 12 0 Railway Fares .. .. 0 13 0 Painting Signs .... 1 1 0 Balance 31st Dec., 1915 .. 1149 7 9 £1862 14 10 £1862 14 10 The Returned and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, as indicated previously, is a separate Fund from that created by the Queen Carnival movement. It is, as a matter of fact, the special Fund from which, until the Southland War Fund Association is organised and commences its duties, relief and assistance can be extended to the soldiers who have actually been on service and to their dependents. At the credit of this account, on the 24th June, 1915, there was a balance of £698 7s Bd, to which was added by collections the sum of £1164 7s 2d, making a total of £1862 14s lOd. The disbursements, which are minutely detailed in the audited statement, amount to £713 7s Id, leaving a balance of £1149 7s 9d to carry forward, Chaplain-Major Dutton, to whom was entrusted the sum of £2OO as per the statement of accounts, has mainly been attached to the Hospital Ship Maheno, which returned to New Zealand some weeks ago. Shortly thereafter Chaplain Dutton was so good as to meet the committee when he gave a most interesting account of his stewardship of the funds placed at his disposal and also of his experiences in connection with the war and the New Zealand soldiers. The Chaplain found that the Southland, Otago and Wellington Committees had placed him in possession of a much greater sum than his sphere of operations could usefully and beneficially absorb. He has consequently refunded to the committee since December 31st the sum of £159 6s Bd, which the committee have intimated to ChaplainMajor Dutton will be at his disposal should his duty call him to the Front or Hospital Ship again. . The item £7 10s for a pistol appearing in the statement being dealt with is an error which will be corrected in next account. It should be charged to the Expeditionary Forces Account. Since its inception £1937 8s Sd has been contributed to the Returned and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. The total disbursements to the 31st December were £7BB 0s lid, leaving the available balance as above noted £1149 7s 9d. MONTENEGRIN AND SERBIAN RELIEF FUND—3lst Dec., 1915. £ s. d. £ s. d Balance 24th June, 1915 .. 79 11 6 Secretarial Expenses .... 5 0 0 Cash collected 160 18 1 Remittance through Deparment of Internal Affairs 140 0 0 Balance 31st Dec., 1915 . . 96 9 7 i £240 9 7 £240 9 7 Montenegrin and Serbian Relief Fund.—No disbursements had been made from this account up to the 23rd June, 1915, and the total sum collected up to that time, viz., £79 11s 6d, is shown as the then balance. Between the 24th June and 31st December funds amounting to £l6O 18s Id were contributed, making an available total of £240 9s 7d. Of this £l4O has been forwarded to those for whom it was intended through the Department of Internal Affairs. £5 has been charged to the account for secretarial expenses, thus leaving a balance of £95 9s 7d to be dealt with. That the distress in Serbia is acute there can be no gainsaying and the needs of our Allies in that country should most assuredly receive a greater share of our generosity. This should be made clear to the public of Southland in order that more liberal remittances to Serbia may be made from time to time. SOUTHLAND WAR FUND—BI st December, 1915. RECEIPTS. EXPENDITURE. £ , s. d. £ s. d. Balance 24th June, 1915.. 1248 12 6 Printing, advertising, cartCash collected 1830 11 4 age, and other expenses connected with various functions .. 179 4 6 Secretarial Expenses .. 45 0 0 St. John Ambulance Fund 5 12 6 Typist 7 18 3 Cleaning Offices, etc. .. 6 10 0 Cheque Book 0 2 0 Railway Fares, etc., to Nelson (mother and child) 4 17 6 Transfer to-Queen Carnival having been paid to this account in error 16 8 3 Salvation Army .. . . 50 0 0 Governor’s Red Cross Appeal .. _ . .. .. 150 0 0 Flag-pole, Flags, etc. . v 22 13 5 Sweets 6 10 4 Dentist 3 0 0 Post & Telegraph Department Rent and Bureau Charges, etc 2 16 S Advertising 3 16 9 Cartages and Stamps .. 2 6 10 Printing in connection with Continuous Effort Scheme .. .. .. 49 13 6 Sundry Expenses (brief bag, fixing table, telephone connection, .etc.) 2 14 3 Balance 31st Dec,, 1915 .. 2523 19 1 £3OBB 3 10 £3OBB 3 10 Southland War Fund.—The balance brought forward at 24th June, 1915, was £1248 12s 6d and the additions thereto by collections up to 31st December amounted to £1839 11s 4d, making a total of £3OBB 3s lOd. The disbursements as shown In the Statement before you amount in the aggregate to £558 4s 9d, do not call for special reference. The balance carried forward at 31st December was £2529 19s Id. Contributions to this Fund since its inception has totalled £3708 3s lOd and the aggregate outgoings had been £ll7B 4s 9d for the same period, leaving the before-mentioned balance of £2529 19s Id In hand. This Fund has not been created for any specific war purpose, but is one upon which the Committee may draw for a.ny contingency arising out of the war. It may be used at the discretion of the Committee to meet deficiencies in or to augment the Special Funds under its control, in fact it may simply be regarded as a reserve against contingencies; HOSPITAL SHIP FUND—3lst December, 1915. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cash collected 33 2 0 Minister Internal Affairs. . 39 2 0 RED CROSS FUND—3lst December, 1915. £ s. d- £ s. d. Cash collected 44 13 0 Minister Internal Affairs .. 44 13 0 Special Effort. —During the period under review two special efforts were made resulting in a sum of £39 2s being collected and forwarded to the Department of Internal Affairs towards the “Hospital Ship Fund,” and to the same Department £44 13s towards the British Red Cross Fund. The following is a summary of the halancies standing to the credit of the different accounts under the control of the Committee (showing how the aggregate sum is invested) together with the Auditor's certificate. SOUTHLAND PATRIOTIC FUNDS. Statement showing position of funds as at 31st December, 1915. £ s. d. ! £ s. d. Belgian Relief Fund .. .. 29;>9 11 X 1 Bank of New Zealand Montenegrin and Serbian j Cash balance . . . . 305 17 1 Funds 95 9 7 j Cash in hand 2 12 6 British Relief Fund .... 57 Hi S..| Fixed Deposit £7soo—*' Returned and IVounded j £4«>o .. 7950 0 0 Soldiers' Fund .. .. 1149 T 9 Southland War Fund . . .. 2529 19 ] 8258 9 7 Southland Expeditionary Unprcsentcd cheques .. 129 ] 1 S Force Fund •• •• 1338 C 3 SI2S 17 n j Unpaid cheque at Bank, j 8/11/15 112 G £BI3O 10 5 £BI3O 10 5 AUDITORS’ CERTIFICATE. We have examined the books and accounts of the various Patriotic Funds to 31st December, 1915, and hereby certify that the above statement, showing how those funds stand, and the accompanying detailed statements of receipts and payments in support of same agree therewith and are correct. All our requirement as Auditor have been complied with. DEARY, CUTHBERTSON & WEBB, Auditors. Invercargill, 10th February, IHIC. jt. will be of interest to you to have the summary of the contributions both in cash ami iu kind made by the people of Southland for Patriotic purposes since the outbreak of the war.

£ s. d. (A) Belgian Fund -- .. •• I (B) Serbian and Montenegro f J ; ‘ (O) British Belief LS4O £ ? (D) Returned and Wounded .. ...... .. L 937 f 3 tE) General War 3 ’o°i i- A Waistcoat Fund ' ; Red Cross ” 1 £ " (F) Expeditionary Force Fund 6.050 15 10 Hospital Ship •• •• Southland Motor ; ■*“ i) J ‘ Estimated amount forwarded direct by other committees •• •• 3,000 0 0 Southland Queen Carnival, including gifts,, in cash and kind 66,035 11 6 Cash sent direct to Government ........ 1,600 0 0 Gifts sent direct to Government M3O 0 0 Value of clothing forwarded .. .. .. .. .. 3,000 0 0 £105,648 2 11 Mv predecessor in the chair (Mr Hunt), in his statement anent tie accounts to 23rd June, 1915, emphasised to those administering the funds the need for economy, and the avoidance of wastage or duplication and for continued effort. I would reiterate that appeal. The people of Southland have contributed most liberally to the Queen Carnival Fund, but, possibly as a consequence of their liberality, the efforts being made to raise monies for other and, let me say almost equally urgent purposes, are meeting with less and less response. Meanwhile the war is seemingly no nearer its termination and the calls upon those who are circumstanced as are the inhabitants of New Zealand for assistance. in cash and kind are increasing as the weeks go on. These needs must’ be met if we in Southland are to maintain our reputation, and I sincerely trust that one of the many advantages that will accrue from the formation of the War Funds Association will be increased activity in collecting by the many branches that will be formed, and a commensurate increase in the contributions to the various Patriotic Funds. Meanwhile it must, I think, be apparent to every one that every penny must be spent judiciously and every ounce of energy expended in the most useful direction. THE WORK OF THE LADIES. The Committee desires to thank the women of Southland for the magnificent work done by them during the period since the commencement of the war. It is a proud fact that the various Ladies’ organisations are folly recognising the heroism of our soldiers and those of our Allies, and they are taking a great part in displaying by actions rather than by words, their deep gratitude. A. W. RODGER, Chairman. BELIEF SUB-COMMITTEE. REPORT BY CHAIRMAN. To relieve the legitimate needs of any soldier or his dependents, to carefully consider all cases brought under its notice and generally to assist soldiers and dependents to obtain their full medium'of assistance from the Government is the responsibility of this Committee. Since last report the work has been going on quietly, and a number of cases have been considered and attended to. The returned soldiers in this district being nearly all undischarged are still in receipt of regular pay and consequently do not require any assistance from the Patriotic Fund in the meantime. Several have been discharged and granted pensions, but where special circumstances call for extra attention the Relief Committee has made minor payments pending some improvement in the conditions. A number of married men have enlisted leaving dependents in a somewhat precarious position. These cases have been taken in hand by the Committee and where necessary allowances have been made to supplement the amounts alloted from the soldier’s pay where such has been considered inadequate for the needs of dependents. Under a reciprocal arrangement with the Provincial Patriotic Committees some of our Southland soldiers and their dependents have been looked after in other centres. This method will ensure full protection being given at whatever point assistance is required. H. W. ROYDS, Chairman. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES SUB-COMMITTEE. The duty of this committee is to deal with all matters relating to the provision of comforts for soldiers, to deal with matters concerning equipment, and finally to handle the applications from soldiers for advances on pay. The question of allowance to nurses and officers is also a matter for this Committee. Since the publication of the last report, its activities have been fairly numerous, particularly with regard to the granting of advances on pay. The balance sheet will show that a considerable sum has been voted for the purchase of wool. This has been converted into socks. Balaclavas, etc., by willing workers of Southland, with the result that the Committee has been enabled to forward splendid supplies of these articles from time to time. It is now understood that the Government vyll undertake to provide compasses and binoculars for officers, so that the expenditure incurred in connection with these items will not be a recurring one. This' Committee carefully watches the progress and requirements of soldiers at the Front, and also looks to their entertainment at Trentham. It arranged, and paid for a Christmas dinner for the Southland men at the Dardanelles, and it contributes a quarterly allowance to the Wellington Central Committee to assist it to arrange for concerts at the Military Camps. A Christmas cable was dispatched per medium of the N.Z. High Commissioner to the men at the front, and also to those in Egypt and in hospitals. The question as to whether an allowance should be made to officers to assist them to procure their equipment has been considered from time to time, and the view that has been taken is that, until such time as the Government makes a sufficient grant to cover the cost of the equipment referred to, the Committee should subsidise the amount paid by the State. It has been found necessary in many cases for the Committee to grant an additional £lO to officers. J. GILKISON, Chairman. DISCHARGED SOLDIERS’ INFORMATION DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE. REPORT BY CHAIRMAN. At the request of the Government this Committee is established with the object of assisting discharged soldiers to secure suitable employment and to obtain for them any information of which they may stand in need. I have to report that up to the present we have not had many applications for work from discharged soldiers, work seems to be fairly plentiful, and most of the returned men who are fit for work seem to have been able to get work for themselves. A few have passed through our hands; two we are at present arranging suitable positions for, one will be ready for our assistance in a short time, when we shall be looking for some light employment for him, and four or five have already been placed, and I believe they are finding their new positions suitable, and from what we saw of them, I am convinced that they will give every satisfaction; As time goes on, and more men return, and those who are now sick will recover, there is no doubt we shall have many more applications, and I take this opportunity of requesting those who have suitable positions open to keep us advised, so that we may be able to place all applicants. Yours faithfully, M. THOMPSON. THE CONTINUOUS EFFORT COMMITTEE. REPORT BY CHAIRMAN. Although the work of the Continuous Effort Committee has been proceeding smoothly on the whole a lack of interest is apparent in many quarters, and, in consequence, the results obtained by the Collectors for the last two mouths has been somewhat disappointing. Each mouth of lata has shown a decline. This is a matter for regret, more especially as donations, which from time to time were received through other channels, have also been falling off both in amount and frequency. Apparently many of the general public are averse to making regular contributions, preferring intermittent efforts which afford, a certain measure of excitement, and it would therefore seem advisable that, if funds are to be raised regularly and methodically for the many purposes for which they are urgently needed, some further special form of public appeal should be made. I therefore commend this suggestion to the Committee. For the eight, months ending on December 31st the total amount received was £2907 19s 4d. The following table indicates how this was apportioned amongst the various funds and the amounts collected in the main districts :

E. P. HOWARD, Chairman. The reading of the reports having been completed the Chairman moved that the report he approved, adopted, printed and circulated. Mr M. Thompson suggested that the report should be issued in pamphlet form, and that a brief explanation of the Southland War Funds’ Association should be appended to it. Mr J. Gilkison suggested that it was usual for the Treasurer as well as the Auditor to sign the statements of accounts. The Secretary explained that the documents themselves were signed by the Treasurer (Mr T. W. Walker, Town Clerk), and that the name appear in the printed copies as finally approved. Mr C. S. Longuet seconded the motion, and complimented the Chairman of the League and the Chairmen of Committees on the concise and complete account they had given of the work done. The report would satisfy everybody, Mr Longuet said, even His Worship the Mayor, that the Committee’s work was onerous and that it was properly carried out. The documents showed that the work had been admirably done, (Applause). The motion was carried unanimously.

Fund. jlnver-gill. Alataura. Fortrose Orepuki District. Waikaka. Totals. A. Belgian ... ...i 337 16 8 112 15 9 38 19 91 23 14 0 14 2 0 527 S O B. Montenegrin and 79 9 0 •23 10 6 10 15 0 1 15 0 115 9 6 Serbianj’ C. British ... ...j 38 3 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 40 n 0 D. Returned Soldiers 1 360 6 11 112 5 6 22' 0 6j 13 3 6 507 16 5 E. General War ...| 1539 H 0 32 15 0111 7 6ji33 4 9 1716 18 3 ; ‘2355 6 7 282 6 9:84 6 91171 17 3 14 2 0 £2907 19 4