STRATFORD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144857, 8 December 1915, Page 7

STRATFORD.

Fltim OUR RKSUIKNT AGENT. December 7.—Nineteen delegates fronj various patriotic committees iu Stratford drill ict met at the Town Hall this afternoon to elect a member of tho executive of tho TaraaaUi Branch War Relief Society. The Mayor presided. Messrs. W. I’. Kirkwood, It. Dingle, and J. Masters were noiviiniij:ed nud the first-named was chosen by uallot. An hour was then pleasurably and profitably spout iu clearing up some alleged differences between town and country on tbe matter of subscribing to the funds. Tho differences were happily found to be the ‘'baseless fabric of a dream.” Difficulties with t!io Defence Department over tho ticutmunt of returned sick and wounded soldiers were also discussed. These wcio found to bo only too substantial. Instances wore given of undischarged soldiers allowed to drift into permanent disablement or serious illness for want of looking after, ft is evident that unless tho sick or wounded man is considered on arrival to be bad enough for hospital troaD mont tho Defence Department takas no further trouble about him. ‘ If the department cannot or will not keep an eye on those cases, the least it should do is to notify the Patriotic Committee of the soldier’s town or district. Dr. Paget, who spoke well and feelingly on this subject, said that tho difficulty of tho Patriotic Committee was to get into touch with these men. They were still soldiers and were unwilling to complain. 110 appealed to tho delegates present to endeavour to discover ail cases of the kind and to send them to him, when bo would examine them free of charge and report to tho Patriotic Committee. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr. Foley, lessee of the hall, for the free use of the building for tbe meeting. Mention was made at tho meeting of the gift auction of stock, otc., that tho Associated Auctioneers are holding in January. Tho response of farmers has been liberal, and tho proceeds are expected to run into four figures.