PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15133, 30 January 1917, Page 8

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Wauganui-Waitotara Patriotic Association was held yesterday afternoon, Mr T. B- Williams (chairman) presiding ever an attendance of about twenty. CHRISTMAS AT TRENTHAM.— The Mayor of Wellington wrote asking for a grant of £SO towards the cost of providing Christmas dinner for the troops in the Trentham camp, which amounted to £650. There were 5000 troops in camp on the day of the dinner, and they had a good time. Mr Luke added that .substantial gifts were also sent to the forts and garrisons, hospitals, and all Government services in and around ,t.he city that claim an interest in the patriotic work of the Dominion.—The amount asked for was voted.—ln answer to a question, die chairman stated that only a few Patriotic i Associations contributed towards the cost of the dinner.—Several members expressed the opinion that th i whole of the Associations in New Zealand should have assisted, as men were in camp from all parts of the Dominion. HELPING RETURNED SOLDIERS.—A letter was read from , the Advisory Board inquiring what the Association was doing in the way of setting up returned soldiers in small businesses, in order that tho information might be forwarded to the Adjut-ant-General.’ SALVATION ARMY—The Finance Committee recommended that the Association vote £2OO to the Salvation Army, in aid of their effort to raise £SOOO for New Zealanders in camps—£loo for the camps in New Zealand and a similar amount for Salvation Army work at tho front.—Recommendation adopted. Y.M.C.A.—A letter was read from Mr W. R. Taylor, secretary of the local Y.M.C-A., asking for a grant towards the Associations’ contingency fund for trench comforts. The Association “headed” for £ISOO, and in the Wanganui district. alone £llOO had been raised.—.The matter was referred to the Finance Committee, and it was decided to ask the Y.M.C.A. for an explanation of the report that goods were being sold at the front to the soldiers.—Mr Hope Gibbons expressed the opinion that as the Y.M.C-A. were doing such a huge work, it should be done on national lines. The various branches in the Dominion should unite and make their appeals through the Advisory Board, not, as at present, leaving it for branches to make separate calls on the several Patriotic Associations. “SMOKES.”—Sergeant D. Ball wrote; under date November from France, thanking -Jxe Association for the welcome gift of cigarettes and tobacco to the boys who performed their range practices in Wanganui. Each man received about four packed of cigarettes, and a 2oz. tin of tobacco. A similar letter was read from G. P. CrawfordGRANTS.—The . Grants Committee reported that assistance had been given to fifteen returned soldiers, apd, ' in some cases to families of soldiers, during the month?' BELGIAN RELIEF.—Mrs E. A. Wotton, hon. sec. of the Belgian and, Servian Relief Society, applied for a grant of money to begin the work next month. Last year the receipts totalled €291 15s 5d (cash donations and collections £206 ids sd, and grants from* Patriotic Association £35)- The expenditure included £225, purchase of provisions and materials.—Referred to the Finance Committee.