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December 2, 1899.]
Hall on
Monday for the purpose of devising means to astais the wives and families of our soldiers and sailors in South Africa was held in the Council Chamber at the Government Offices,
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Henry Blake, G.C.M.G.) occupied the chair, and there were also present H.E. Major Ge- neral Gascoigne, C.M.G, Sir Thomas Jack son (Hon. Treasurer), Vice-Admiral Fitzgerald, Commodore Powell, R.N.. C.B., Colonel The O'Gorman, the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart C.M.G. (Honorary Secretary), Colonel Elsdale, Major Long, the Hon. Captain Trefusis, Vis- count Suirdale, the Hon. R. D. Ormsby, Hon. C. P. Chater, C.M G., Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. E. R. Belilios, C.M.G., Hon. Wei A Yak, Mesars. D. R. Crawford, Murray Bain, D. M. Moses. W. Danby, A. J. Raymond, A. Mo. Connohis. D. Gillies, and Fung Wa Chuon.
The Hon. SECRETARY said two latters of spology had been received for non-attendance, one being from Mr. Pollock and the other from Mr. Francis. The latter offered his services to the treasurer to collect subscriptions from members of the legal profession.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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· 457
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR said the money would go from Hongkong and the am- oant subscribed by the ships here and the gar rison would be stated. They would give the details.
The Hon. SECRETARY-Details will be pub lished, and every subsoriber will have his name mentioned.
other way his widow receives one year's pay if it | ately, and the ships might not be mentioned is found that the Patriotic Fund has not assisted His object was to get as much money as pos- her with a pension. If the Patriotic Fund sible. assists ber the Government gives her nothing. There is no mention at all, of course, in the regulations of the wives and families of those who have married without leave. These cases, I take it, would be reached by the Sailors and Soldiers' Families' Association, be- cause otherwise it is inconceivable that the tele- gram would have stated "Wives and children left behind and those not on the strength."
Major LONG called attention to the fact that Colonel Gildes, of the association in question, had stated that the association proposed not only to make the same allowance to women not on the strength which the Government made to women married on the strength but to make them a second allowance to make up for the lack of allowanow from the Government.
HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOB-I think I read that letter. The intention of the 85- sociation, as far as I can see, is to assist those wives and families who are on the strength and, furthermore, to assist the wives and families of those who are not on the strength to such an extent that they would make the assistance given to them equal to the assistance given to those on the strength. I do not know whether this affects the sailors at all, because I under- stand that the sailors are peculiarly circumstan- ced in one way, that is, that every sailor can
marry.
Admiral FITZGERALD—Wives are not on the strength; they are not recognised.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-But there is no difference is there? In the event of a sailor being killed his wife would recieve some gratuity.
Admiral FITZGERALD—I doubt it. They do not recognise wives in the navy. I think they are much in the same condition as the women not on the strength in the army.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR-Then the Association would meet their cases, and I must say that the Association which would carry out the views of the subsoribing public here seems to be the Sailors and Soldiers' Families' Associa. tion. It will be for you to consider in sending this mousy to the Mansion House Fund whether we shall distinctly in imate that we desire it to be placed to the credit of that Association or not. I thought it advisable to give you as much information as I could on the subject and 1 shall be glad to hear any observations.
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Admiral Fitzgerald-Do you publish the name of every subscriber?
The Hon. SECRETARY—Oh yes; we always do that.
Admiral FITZGERALD said his only object wa to get as much money as they could, and he could not help thinking that the fund would benefit if there was a certain amount of rivalry between the ships.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR They could send in their subscription as a unit and the ship could be mentioned as a unit and the same with the Garrison.
Admiral FITZGERALD (to Commodore Powell) ---Does that meet your views?
Commodore POWELL-quite.
The question as to how the list should be headed was then discussed, and it was decided that it should be headed: - South African. War, Sailors and Soldiers' Families Fund."
The question was asked as to whether the officers' wives and families would participate.
H.
E. Major-General GASCOIGNE ---- I think that as regards the officers there is no doubt the officers' widows want help very often much more than the widows of the rank and file, but I think that in this fund I should al- most recommend that we hold ourselves aloof from the officers. I think the Sailors and Soldiers Families' Association will be sufficient for us to subscribe to here. The officers' widows and families will be looked after to a certain extent. They are more easily got at. Her Majesty the ! Queen is always very good to them, and they have more opportunities of bringing their case forward than the widows of the rank and file. I think that unless this fund is to reach very large dimensions it will be sufficient to confiné ourselves to relieving those who are practically left completely and entirely destitute.
Admiral FITZGERALD conourred. This was evidently the feeling of the meet- ing.
The point was raised as to whether the associs- tion wouldrelieve only the wives and children and not the widows and orphans.
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR said- Gentlemen, you will remember that when addressed you at the meeting on Monday 1 read a telegram which had been sent in answer to an enquiry as to the scope of the fund inaugurated by the Lord Mayor of London, that telegram being as follows: Fund em- braces widows, orphans, and other dependents of officers and men. For sick and wounded while under treatment. For oldiers and sail- ors disabled by wounds. For benefit after leav. ing service. For wives and children left behind, and those not on the strength." In consequence of this information it was de. oided that the money collected in Hongkong should be simply sent to the Mansion Hous, and that its distribution should be left to a consider. able extent to the discretion of the people there, with an expression of opinion from this com. mittee as to what should be done. At the meet. ing on Monday you will remember that General Giacoigne appeared to have some objection to the money being placed in the Patriotic Fund. However, I dare say most of you will have seen the latter in to-day Daily Press-copied from the London Times-which really gives the views of the Lord Mayor as to what he is going to do with the fund. In that letter the Lord Mayor says:-"I therefore propose, in order to give the public the widest scope for their benevolence, H.E. Major-General GASCOIGNE-I think that contributions for widows, orphaus, and that, 80 far AS I can see, that is the best solution of the matter. The Patriotio other dependents of those who may lose their lives shall be handed to the Patriotic Fund Faud of course is very ably administered. Commission for administration; those for sick There is no doubt about it. At the same and wounded while under treatment t、 the
time the money subscribed to it has been British Red Cross Society; those for soldiers certainly capitalised, and I take it that sub- disabled by wounds (for their benefit after they scribers to the "Missus and Kids" Fund parti- leave the service) to that excellent organi.cularly desine that the money should go sation Lloyd's Patriotic Fu d, founded in the direct and should not be capitalised and City in 1803; and those for wives and children merely doled out in driblets. Personally as separated to the Soldiers fand Sailors' Families'
one of the subscribers to the original fund, Association. All contributions should, there- I should be perfectly contented that my sub- fore, be clearly indicated by donors as fol- scription
go to the Sailors and lows: (1) Widows and orphans; (2) sick Soldiers' Families' Association. Of course I and wounded; (3) disabled soldiers; (4) wires only speak as one person. Mr. Ormsby may and children. Any not marked will be handed have been aware of the Lord Mayor's letter over for the benefit of widows and orphans, when he made his proposal at the meeting the -as it is upon the Duke of Cambridge's appeal other day, because his proposal was very much that I ask the public to give liberally." That on the same lines as those indicated in the is the scope of the fand. Yon see from the
letter. Of course it is for the others to say
Sir THOMAS Jackson said he did not think
· Lord Mayor's letter that the contributors to
whether they would like to subscribe to two or the fund will be given every opportunity of three associations. I think myself it would be they could do better than send any contributions selecting what shall be done with their money. best for the money collected in Hongkong to they got here to the Sailers and Soldiers I take it that this money which we in Hong-
go to one association. I am perfectly satisfied Families' Association. Among the hundreds kong are asked to subscribe is for the purpose that the Sailors and Soldiers Families' Asso- and thousands of pounds which would be ool. of giving assistance to widows and orphans of oiation will as far as possible meet all the relected in various parts of the empire other those who may be unfortunate enough to lose quirements which were originally intended by funds would have ample. their lives in South Afries and to the wives and the " Missis and Kids" Fund. families of thosy who survive. I take it that that is what we proposed this fand for ?
Sir THOMAS JACKSON—That includes those not on the strength ?
His EXCELLENCY-Of course that includes wives and families whether on the strength or not. I have been making enquiries with respect to the Patriotic Fund, and as far as I can see it does not seem to embrace wives and families not on the strength, and undoubtedly these are the people wa are determined to get af and assist. What takes place I think is this with regard to widows and orphans. In the event of a man being killed in notion or of his dying in any
should
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HIS EXCELLENCT THE GOVERNOR said he would get information on the point and in the meantime the subscriptions could be withheld.
Sir THOMAS JACKSON thought there was no need to postpone the question. He thought they ought to come to a decision at once. Help rendered quickly was twice help. He begged to propose that the money collected in Hong. kong should be forwarded to the Mansion House with instructions that it should be handed over to the Sailors' and Soldiers' Families' Association for distribution. He thought it was almost certain the widows and orphans would be assisted. It would be ridiculous if they helped the women whe: their husbands were alive and did not do so when their husbands were dead.
H. E. Major-General GASCOIGNE-I know osses where I have received help for widows from the fund.
The proposal to send the money for the Sail- Admiral FITZGERALD asked if the subsoripors and Boldiers Families' Association was car- tion would go io as the Hongkong subscription, His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR—Yes; I should say so.
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ried.
Commodore Powell agreed to see to the dis tribution of lists among the ships; Major Long ́ took the garrison; the Hon. C. P. Chater, the Hon. Wei A Yuk, and Mr. Fang Wa Chuon also placed their services at the disposal of the hon. treasurer at his request: The legal pro- fession were left to Mr. Francis.
Admiral FITZGERALD said he was rather inclined to think that so far as the Navy was concerned they would like to hand over their money themselves to the society. Although they ought not to let their left hand know what
The meeting was adjoured sine die, their right han i gave people liked to see their names down in some way as having subscribed. For instance, the ships in Hongkong and those Lieutenant W. T. Layard, let Bath, North- ships on the station which were not in Hong-amptonshire Regiment, has been selected for 'kong would send in their subscriptions separ- ' employment with the Chinese regiment,