PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17063, 16 August 1917, Page 7

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

The usual meeting of the Management Committee of the WanganuiWaitotara Patriotic Association was held yesterday. In the unavoidable absence of Mr. T. B. Williams, Mr. E. A. Campbell presided. Present: Messrs H. V. Duigan, Jas. Higgie, A. Robinson, A. Burnett, F. WebbJones, W. A. Collins, C. H. Burnett, G. Spriggens and Mrs. C. E. Mackay. Reports.—The reports of the Grants and Lands and Finance Committees were laid on the table.

Grants. —Payments to soldiers totalling £17 10s were approved.

Accounts to the amount of £11 2s were passed for payment.

Balances.—The balances as at 31st July, 1917, were shown as under:—Belgian Fund £407 17s lOd, British Food Fund £145 18s lid; Xmas Comforts Fund £35 19s 2d; Contingency Fund £4848 12s sd; Expeditionary Force Fund, £14 9s 8d; Hospital Ship Fund £376 3s 2d; New Zealand Wounded Soldiers £33,852 2s 2d; Red Cross Fund £756 7s Id; Servian Fund £3; V.M.C.A. £5; Rotorua Homes Foind £100; Aotea Home Fund £558 10s; Mrs. Gifford Moore's JRed Cioss Depot £295 18& 7d; Belgian Children £1 4s; Interest Account £188 Is 7d; Blind Soldiers £83; Westmere Social Fund £5 8s 6d; Rent Account £18; Okoia Boys' Comforts Committee £10 2s. Total £41,705 15s Id.

Gift Parcels. —A letter was received from the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, notifying that the Officer Commanding the N.Z. Division at the front has cabled a recommendation that gift parcels be confined to woollen articles, milk and Havetocjc tobacco, which may be sent Home in bulk. If extra money is available by this arrangement it should be sent for distriDution to units, to purchase extras, for which purpose 2s. per month per man would be ample.

Church Army.—A sub-committee's recommendation re application for grant for the Anglican Church Army's war work was referred to next meeting of the General Committee.

Drainage.— A demand for certain repairs, etc., to a property in Halswell St., owned by the Association, received from Mr. Gilmour, Borough sanitary inspector, was referred to the Mnance Committee.

Military Age Limit.—On the motion of Mr. J. H. Burnet, It was unanimously resolved "That in the opinion of the Committee it is undesirable to reduce the military age from 20 years, until at least the earlier classes of the Second Division is exhausted, and that this opinion be conveyed to the Minister of Defence. Messrs G. Spriggens, E. A. Campbell and C. H. Burnett strongly supported the motion.