SOUTHLAND WAR FUNDS COMMITTEE

Southland Times, Issue 17934, 27 January 1917, Page 7

SOUTHLAND WAR FUNDS COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Southland War Fund* Committee was held on Thursday, January 25th, when there were [iresent :—Messrs H. W, Fto yds (chairman). W. A. Cox, ,1. Turnbull, J. Smaill, J. Gilkison, 51. Thompson, H. E. Niven, K. G. slcKen/.ie, J. McDougall, A. McKenzie, A. .Small and Dr Trotter. Apologies were received from Messrs .7. Fisher, F, W. Brown, and D. 51cDougall. CO It It ESPONDEN CE. Otantau branch wrote asking that tlie committee urge the Government to make the hours of work throughout the Civil Service S a.m. to (! p.m., tints releasing; a large number of employers. Received. The Oreti, Pulicrau, and Quarry Hills committees notified that there were no cases requiring assistance in their respective districts. The Canterbury Patriotic I'htnds Committee asked the committee to urge the Auckland Society to conform with the general principal of assisting those applicants domiciled in the Auckland province prior to their enlistment. The latter staled that the Auckland Society would assist people resident in the Auckland province only.—Received, and it was resolved to ask for further information, and to point out that already Auckland had assisted dependents of Auckland soldiers who were now residing in Southland. The National Service League appealed for £25 to enable it to forward a booklet to the school children of Southland, asking them to honour disabled -soldiers, and do acts of kindness for them.—Received, and the scheme was approved, and it was decide to subscribe the amount indicated. The Trentham Camp Adjutant notified that the loss of a soldier's denture, the return of which the committee had advocated on the soldier's behalf, was his own misfortune and nothing could lie done for him. — Received. The Patriotic Advisory Board intimated that the next meeting would be held in Wellington on February 22nd. — Received. —Mr J. Gllkison was appointed to represent Southland. The -Mataura Committee applied for permission to include in an art union a section of land donated in that town for Queen Carnival Fund purposes.—Rcceived, and left to Emergency Committee to deal with. With regard to a communication from the Gore Citizens' Defence Committee, Mr Thompson reported that one or two members had attended a recent meeting in Gore for the purpose of explaining the methods adopted in the administration of the funds, but that the G|re committee, after due consideration, had decided to retain its own funds and administer them locally. A number of communications of a confidential nature dealing with applications for relief were also dealt with. DEPUTATION. Messrs C. S. Longuet and J. B. 51cKinney waited upon the committee in advocacy of a grant to the Y.51.C.A. Trench Comforts Fund. Mr Longuet explained that while he was in entire sympathy with the Gift Parcels scheme, it was urged that if money were placed at the disposal of the Y.M.C.A. representatives at the front it could be very wisely expended. He reported on the work that was being done by the Y.M. C.A., and explained in detail its scheme for purchasing goods in London for free distribution to the men in the fighting area. Mr McKinney supplemented the remarks of 51 r Longxiet. After the chairman had assured the deputation that their representations would have careful consideration, Messrs Longuet and McKinney withdrew. A letter from the Advisory Board intimating that the question of placing some portion of the funds at present being remitted monthly from New Zealand for additional comforts at the disposal of the Y.M.C.A. for distribution was to be considered at the meeting in February ,and the War Funds Committee, after discussion, decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Southland delegate to obtain the fullest information and report at a further meeting. SOLDIERS’ OBLIGATIONS. The Government scheme for affording financial assistance to soldiers where cases of undue hardship is incurred as a result of the soldier being called up or enlisting was considered, and it was decided to communicate with the Minister of Defence asking whether the committee could make representations on behalf of soldiers coming under the scope of the regulations. REPORT ON CLAIMS. A considerable amount of time was devoted to the reviewing of the claims dealt with by the Emergency Committee during the past month, and temporary weekly grants involving the funds to the extent of £l4 weekly were passed for payment .while special grants amounting to £ls were also agreed to.