SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS FUND.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13873, 15 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS FUND.

£8300 IN HAND

MR SKERRETT'S SCHEME

APPROVED

(From "The Cdlonist," Sept. 13.) A conference of the Nelson Executive Committee of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers and their Dependents' Fund and delegates from the various branches in the country districts was held at the-.City Council Chambers on Saturday night, th© Mayor (Mr O. J. Harley) presiding. District committees were represented as follows:—

Stoke: Messrs Bolt, Wilmot, A. V. and A. P. Allport. Richmond: Messrs James Hunt and T. Bell.

Brightwater: Colonel Bryant, Yen. .Archdeacon Baker, Messrs Lane and Fairey. •

Foxhill: Messrs L. 0. Baigent and Hunt,

Murchison: Mr S. L. Fairhall. Upper Moutere: Messrs T. Hewetson, C. Thomas, and Bockmann. Motueka: Messrs C. Low© and H. Buckeridge. Riwaka: Mr H. Everett. Waimea West: Messrs F. Coleman, W. L. Palmer, and E. Challies. ])ovedale: Mr Noble Win. Wakapuaka: Mr Geo. Dodson. Takaka: Mr J. L. Harris.

Ther,e was a good attendance of the locai executive committee, including the joint secretaries, Messrs Wallace Snodgrass and E. J. Allen.

Mr Allen, .as treasurer reported that after some small disbursements there was a sum of £5754 12s in hand. Of this £300 was invested in the Post Office Savings Bant at 3$ per cent, and £700 at 3 per cent.; £4500 on deposit in the Bank of New Zealand for 24 months at 4 per cent.; and £254 12s remained in current account. The present jncomo from investments was at the rate of £212 5s per annum, while regular monthly, contributions promised and being paid amounted to £25 16s, which if continued would bring in £310 per annum additional. Mr Walter Snodgrass. secretary of the Sports Committee section of the fund, reported that practically all the money was in- for the sale of the flag presented by Mrs (I>r.) Bett, who initiated the scheme and paid the^ expenses. Mrs Bett. amidst much • applause, then hondeel the treasurer a,cheque for £1018 18s sd. Mrs Bett thanked those who had assisted in making the effort successful.

The treasurer stated that the total of the fund was advanced to £6917.

Mrs Lock stated that Mrs Elizabeth Ridgeway had presented the title deeds of v half-acre- section in Carterton, which had cost her £90 about three years ago. The deeds were handed in amidst applause. ' Mr Fairhall stated that tho Murchison committee had £166 in hand and £20 in sight. Mr Lowe said Motueka had £720 m hand awaiting instructions, and it was hoped to make it £3000. Mr Harris said that Takaka had during tho last three months raised £650, of "which £275 was allocated to the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund.- Prior to that the district had contributed £700 to various funds. Mr Eveiett said that Riwaka had £100 in hand. Mi- Hunt reported that Richmond had £125 in hand, with regular monthly subscriptions coming in. The amounts reported as above swell tho total of tlie fund to £8300 • NATIONAL WARRPJLIEF ASSO- ■.-/■-..■ \ :;■ CIATION. .. ■■-. . ■ The conference, -proceeded-to ..cousrder/3llr.;Sk«rreti?-s v^h©m©''fbr , a National ;War ; Relief ; a summary of - wliieh, jwcepared by " tho Mayor, has been-already published, and copies of which were sent to the various branches of the fund. The Mayor said that, though it appeared that Auckland and Otago were unlikely to come iuto the scheme, personally he favoured it, and the com•bination of the other portions of New Zealand would give a strong fund. It would be noticed that subject to tho scale fixed by the central body each branch woula have control of its awn funds. The principle of uniformity in rates of relief and that of the weaker -districts being helped by the stronger if necessary were admirable parts of the scheme. Mr Wallace Snodgrass, the Nelson delegate to the conference held in Wellington to consider the scheme, strongly recommended that Nelson should adopt the scheme. He was very much struck at the conference, when the delegate from Westland said that his district was a. comparatively poor one, and it had sent away a greater proportion of men than any other, at the spontaneous and cordial manner in which delegates from rich districts seized the opportunity of declaring- that the stronger ■•■•: districts \ should help the weaker, and pledging their own districts. f Various details were discussed, support of the scheme generally being unanimous on the part of the speakers. Mr Everett was not quite- satisnecl with clause 13, which allowed a branch to make a grant up to £100 without first consulting the Central EKecutwe. He saw a danger that a branch might be too lavish with giants and have to come upon those who had proceeded irore prudently- . ~ The Mayor said that the Association, if formed wouid be incorporated, and he felt satisfied that in framing the necessary general rules such matters as Mr Everett reierred to Avou.'d be tnor°U§u UtS'ofthe Rev. W, Baun, ber, seconded by Mr Fairey, it was then unanimously with acclamat.on iesolved to accept Mr Skerrett's scheme and to afficiate with "The New Zealand National War Relief Association" if incorporated. ! Mr Wallace Snodgrass was unanimously appointed delegate to the further conference to be held in. Wellington this week in. connection with the scheme.