TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1918, Page 3

TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

.MONTHLY MEETING The monthly meeting of ilia Taranaki \V,-ii Relict Association wan held at Stratford yesterday. Present: Messrs W. i\ Kirlovoud (Stratford), in the chair, J. Stevenson (Manaiit), J. Larcomb (Patea), J. \V. WinlieU (Inglewood), F. W. Atkinson (Xorlh Taranaki), C. Washer (Farmers' Union), J.. Mills (llawera), C. E. lielirineer (Xew Plymouth), L. B. Griihslono (EithamJ. CORRESPONDENCE Wanganui Association forwarded correspondence regarding a Taranaki soldier in need oi hospital treatment at Wanganui. The man had been in need of assistance for some time, and the W anganui Association and tile Patea Committee had both granted financial assistance. The Patea delegate (Mr. Lureomb) said he looked upon this case as a very necessary one for assistance, and it was decided to grant tiie man £1 per week till further reports are received or applicant is able to take up employment.

An application from a man to dispose of surplus stock in the ordinary course of tiading was granted, ,and loans of £•200, .tSUO, and £SOO were granted to applicants. The action of tiie Emergency Committee in acceding to an application for t--00 for three years at 4 per cent, was confirmed.

Two applications from Canterbury and one from Wanganui for £3 His clothiu" allowances to Taranaki soldiers now in these provinces were granted. An application was made for relief by a man who had enlisted : n Taranaki and been invalided home through woundsIt was pointed out that the man had only been four months in Taranaki and had resided in Christehurch 38 years. The applicant desired a grant of 10s per week. Delegates thought this was a matter for Canterbury, and they had to draw the line somewhere. If they made tiie grant it should onlv he made t'julcr protest, It was decided to reeognihe the domicile, but not to approve of tho interpretation,-: also to pay the amount.

All application was made for £5 by Association for grant to a Taranaki soldier receiving assistance there Hie soldier was an Australian and desired also a grant of £ 15 towards the cost of returning to liis parents. The Manaia delegate stated that the man had made every effort to get awav, and was deserving of assistance.—£s granted. Auckland Association requested the Taranaki Assoe:ation to favorablv consider an application for £ls on 'behalf of a man there. He had enlisted in Paranaki after residing there for two years prior to enlistment. He also had a brother killed in action, and a brother-in-law at the fropt.—Granted. The eases of two soldiers who had returned from tho front some time ago and had not received their hack pay were considered. Mr. Atkinson stated that the delay by the Government in making these payments keeps the men hanging back, lie thought that representations should be made to the Advisory Board to urge the Government to use more expedition in making payments, and a mqtion to this effect was carried.

In reply to a letter from the Tariki Patriotic Society, asking whether the Association makes grants in favor of soldiers' clubs, and stating tlmt they (Tariki) were favorable to these grants, the secretary reported that lie had replied that the Association has persistently affirmed the principle tliat donations should not be made from the Association's funds for granting assistance to soldiers' clubs or similar institutions.

REGIMENTAL FUNDS. Some discussion was aroused through an application for a grant towards the funds. The secretary read a lengthy statement showing that "the fund was originally started in Kilo, when the Wellington Rifle Brigade was formed. The amount raised in this direction was placed to the credit of the funds to provide comforts, recreation, etc., for the men. It meant the raising of £7oo every three months for the whole regiment-

Mr. Atkinson said the committee had received no correspondence on the matter, and that north of Taranaki they were in the Auckland district as far as brigades were concerned. The secretary indicated that the Wellington Brigade was made up from men drawn from Wairarapa. Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, and Taranaki, as well as Wellington- The Taranaki mounted men were recruited from as far as Wanganui.

The chairman said they only had one fund—provision for the men and dependents.

llf. Bellringer was favorable to the grants, and suggested that committees should work out amounts to be apportioned to each of the patriotic committees in Taranaki. Messrs Atkinson and Grimstone thought they could not work out the actual amount until they had more information, and the question was held over till next meeting.

GENERAL. A request was received from the Taumarunui Committee for a grant of £1 lOs per week for the assistance of the wife of a Stratford man who had enlisted. The woman was destitute and the Taumarunui Committee had sustained the applicant. In reply to Mr. Atkinson the secretary said the amount involved was between £6 and £7 10s, and this amouflt will be paid, the Stratford Committee t,o report on the matter next meeting.

A grant of £2 10s per week was made to a soldier confined to a hospital, to assist his wife and one child. The grant is to be continued for three months.

In the case of a man who is receiving a pension of £3 us per month it was reported that lie had a wife and, five children, and these were in indigent circumstances. —5 grant of £'2 per week for three months wiis allocated, on the motion of Mr. Bellringer. The secretary reported that various amounts totalling £l-IS 17s (Id had been ! acknowledged since last meeting. The bank balance to date was £590 Gs 2d, and at the post office savings bank £!)SO2 10s 2d. Debentures to the value of £2500 had been received-from Stratford Borough Council on account of similar amount advanced. According to the employment department's own list there are no men on the employment wanted register for this district, but several recent eases have been l'eeeived, and counting those which are not definite v settled the number at oresent is 9.

In three of these cases definite offers have been .made, and the men can secure employment by complying with the requests of the department. They are retained on the list on account of no definite final report being received at present'. The remainder are: Opunake 1, Hawera 1, Inglewood 1, Uruti 1, Xew Plymouth 2. The report was adopted.