PATRIOTIC FUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19807, 26 November 1919, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUND.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE.

The executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund mot to-day, Mr H. Holland presiding. ' ! _ Mr T. Geo wrote resigning Ins position os representative for the Cheviot County,

Colonel Young, officer commanding the military district, was appointed to a seat on the executive.

The combined Christchurch - Trotting Clubs forwarded a cheque for £IOOO, representing the profits of the Jellicoe trotting meeting, to be applied for the relief of necessitous widows and orphans of soldiers, and soldiers’ dependents and wounded soldiers, in addition to any other grants. The cheque waa received with very hearty thanks. The chairman reported that bowling greens and tennis courts for thoptedio patients had been prepared satisfactorily in Hagley Park, at a cost of £145 3s. The society had voted £IOO, and the Rod Cross had been asked to make up the difference. The financial statement showed that the total receipts to October 31, 1919, bad been £200,947. The total payments to October 31 were £127,006 16s, including payments to soldiers'and dependents and loans to soldiers £IIO,OBO 3s Cd, and administration expenses and salaries £6006. Tho funds invested and in baud totalled £82,940 9s Bd. The Advisory Board, Wellington, wrote stating that attention had been drawn to the claims being made on societies by soldiers receiving medical attendance, who could have received freo treatment if application had been made to the P.M'.O. The board u sidered that societies should be advised to give every publicity to the fact that free treatment was available for soldiers suffering from war disabilities, and local medical men, instead of treating such cases, might send them along to the P.M.O. If any genuine case should como before societies .n which tho soldier had not availed himself of those privileges his claim should bo sympathetically treated. Writing in regard to tho care of irresponsiblcs, the Advisory Board stated that tho care of returned soldiers who had lost control of themselves was considered with Brigadier-General Richardson and Surgeon - General M Gavin. Tho members present reported that the number throughout the .Dominion was small, and it was not considered necessary at present that a special homo should be provided for them. The meeting considered tho affiliated societies could bo of considerable assistance if they set up small committees specially to take an interest in this class of men, and shout] bo of very great help if they could induce farmers or some other suitable persons to employ and take charge of them. It was also desirable that Cull informateion should be obtained regarding tho men themselves. Tho Canterbury Society was therefore, asked to supply particulars of such men, and the names of persons who would ernplov or take charge of them. The Executive went into rommitt.ee, and on resuming it was reported that, special provision had been made to place a blind soldier and his wife in a home of his own.