MT. BENGER PATRIOTIC FUND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 6378, 19 July 1916, Page 4

MT. BENGER PATRIOTIC FUND.

TeMofs OfeWrOtts BetfofUi to Patriotic Appeals. A Beview of the Past Tear's Work. . Discloses BofflethUJg'of Which the People May Justifiably.Feel Proud. The Necessity For a Continuance of Monthly Subscriptions. (Mt. Benger Mail.) Under the War Funds Act of 1915, every Patriotic Society has to furnish, to the Minister of Internal Affairs, returns of moneys received and expended each month, and quarterly statements. The local society, which is recognised by tho Minister'as'an administering society, controls two funds —the Patriotic Fund and the Distress Fund—and returns for each of these have to be sent to the War Funds Office The last returns were made up to June 30, nnd as it is just a little over a year since the Committee commenced a regular monthly canvas for subscriptions ■a review of its operations during that period will not only prove interesting but will serve to show that the district has boen doing its sharo in assisting in the relief of distress and in looking

after the interests of those on active service. The monthly canvas was established at a public meeting held on May 17th, J915, and in addition to the money raised by this means other npecinl appeals have been made. From May till December the collections averaged about £4O per month which enabled the committee, to donate each mouth to various patriotic purposes sumn from £45 to £SO. Since January the collections have fallen off considerably aud till June, a period of six months, the average has been £3B, a circumstance which has somewhat restricted the Committee in its donations. It in hoped, however that the public will realise that the need for assistance to the several funds to which commit-.

tee is subscribing is still as great as ever, and will keep the monthly collections up to their former average.; By a resolution adopted ou May 24, 1915. the committee decided to retain at least a third of funds gathered each month for the purpose of building up a local distress fund, the balance to lie donated to other .funds. In the first few mouths it was in a position to place £2O each month to the credit of this fund, but the collections falling off, the amount has dropped down to £l2. Still dm.ng the 12 months the fund lias increased up to £275 19s (id, and this is now being used in relieving local cases of distress, and iu rendering assistance if lequircd to tho dependents of married men of the district on active service. As every case is dealt with on its merits the fullest eni|uiries as to the circumstances of each are made by the committee and the public can rest assured that only deserving cases are receiving asistance. Already four insurance premiums have been dealt with, and it is the intention of the committee to pay these and any others that from time to time may be brought under its notice, during the period of war. This fund is invested in the savings bank. Belgian IMief Fund.—This has renations of the committee ranged from money is paid to the Otago Patriotic Committee, Dunedin, Tho monthly donations of tho committee range from £ls iu £B.

Serbian lielief Fund.—£oo 10s has been paid to the Otago Daily Times, for this fund.

Sailors' Dependents Fund.—To this Fund a special appeal was made and £lO6 was colloetcd and sent to the treasurer. Navy League, Duncd'n.

Womons' Patriotic (Jommitteo. —The excellent work of this committee, which meets weekly and makes and collects goods of all descriptions for patriotic purposes is to bo seen in the attached icports of its operations for the past year. To enable it to purchase the neeesary material sums ranging from £lO to £S are voted to it monthly, and till June 30 it has received from this committee £l3B 10s.

lied Cross Fund —The Dunedin branch of the St. Johns Ambulance Association has received from the committee £29 <>s 3d. £2l of this was rnised by a special appeal made last October and the balance was the result of the art union of a painting donated by Mrs W. Donnelly. School Material Fund.—Towards the end of last year the school children decided to direct their energies towards practical work such as knitting, etc., for the soldiers. To supply them with the necessary material £2 per month is paid tho headmaster who has in all received £l3. Waistcoat Fund.—£29 3s 3d was raised for this purpose by a concert organised by the Chinese Band, and was paid over to the Otago Women's Patriotic Asociation. Hospital Ship Fund.—ln response to the Governor's appeal for assistance to equip New Zealand's first hospital ship £lO was sent to the Otago Daily Times list.

Anaesthetics Fund.—£6 was donated town nil this fund in consoquenso of a special appeal made to all patriotic socictits. Poor of Great Britain and Ireland.— In response to an appeal from the parent society £3O was donated to this fund during the early stages of the war. Y.M.C.A. Expeditionary Force Fund. —This fund was established by the Y.M.C.A. for the purpose of supplying the men at the front with reading matter, writing material, etc., and it is worthy of note that the Y.M.C.A. Huts containing all conveniences for the use of the soldiors are to be found right up to tho firing lino, some that close, that they have been shelled by tho enemy. In Egypt recreation ■ ' halls, tea rooms, etc., were provided for*tho use of the troops who found them an immense boon. For the past year £54 10s, £23 of which was raised by Miss Micholle's concert, was paid into this fund. Empire Defence Fund. —This fund created by the Government at the outbreak of the war, received £IBO from ! the commitee. Since its inception the committee has ' raised and paid out the sum of £1250 5a ' 2d, and when it is recognised that this ! amount is quite independent of the sum raised by the Queen Carnival, it speaks volumes for the generosity of the people of this districts For the. jatteiasß29 I 7b lOd was raised, which makes the I grand total of £2,179 13s, and if the generpsity.'ofcJthttiwplo.of'Stlie dlst'riet J. was to end at thi* it would indeed be an I

Mhi*mtmV4t'*h!tth<:to!M t siQn&. But the necessity for asistance in many quarteri, .unfortunately, atill exists, eonftd- c 6n«e to 'every resident to maintain bis ; , or-hor-present subscription. Tho Beligian Commission reports that the .poor Belgians are in sore distress, and their condition at present is, if anything, : worse than formerly, Everyone knows Serbia's plight and how much asistance is needed there. The boys at the front can absorb every comfort in the way Of clothing that willing, hands can make for them and tho generosity and enorgy .•of the peoplo must be maintained till peace is declared. For these reasons, therefore, the committee while thanking all persons for their loyal support during the past year, urges thera to continue. Many, feeling no doubt that tho necessity for contributing has disappeared, have discontinued their sub- ; scriptions, and to them, it specially appeals in order that the donations of | the several funds may bo maintained at their original amount. If those, who feel they are under no obligation to contribute to patriotic funds, will only meditate for a few minutes upon the fact that they owe their present stato of security and freedom to those States which in impeding the advance of the invader have lost everything, nnd to the men on land and sea who in their efforts to crush him have sacrificed everything, they would not hesitate to contribute their modest shilling per month until the end of the war. To the noble band of collectors who month after month collect the subscriptions the Committee tenders its sinccrcst thanks. Without them their efforts would be futile, • aud the community is indebtod to them for their self-sacrificing efforts.

Ladies' Committee. —Evidence of the practical work that has been accomplished by this Committee is to be scon in the following return. Eight soldiers and 7 Belgian boxes were 'sent forward to the Early Settlers' Hall, Duncdin, and five parcels 'wwe''6ent to Mrs Gibbs, Manor Place.

Lildy Liverpool Fund. —370 pairs of iioeksr.' 473 handkerchiefs, 123 service "bags, -"281 soap bags, 30(5 housewives, .297 tea towels, 15 bed socks, 04 balaclavas, 152 pyjamas, S scarves, 57 cuffs, - nightingales, SS kit bags, 49 holdalls, 11 mittens, 30 fuce cloths, 50 face towels. Lady French Fund.—B2 singlets, 19 petticoats, 11 dresses, -5 caps and hoods, 8 coats, 1 shawl. Hospital Whip—7 flannel waistcoats, 1U pillow cases, 5 cushions, 30 operation cloths, 7 tlaunel bags, 02 bandages, 30 operation swabs, 2 parcels old linen, 04 diet cloths, 45 leather waistcoats, 10 cardigan jackets, 1 white rptilt (with names worked in.). Jam.—2ll2 tins.

Gala Day Celebrations. —These were held on August 5, 1915, and resulted in £929 7s 10d being raised. The expenses amounted to £0 5», leaving a net profit of £925 2s lOd. Of this amount £907 was paid to the County Queen Executive, £4 f7s lOd to the Patriotic Fund, and there is a balance of £ll ss. A detailed balance-sheet of tho carnival will appear later.