DEPENDENTS OF DESERTERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 63, 14 March 1918, Page 4

DEPENDENTS OF DESERTERS.

QUESTION OF RELIEF. DISCRETION OF SOCIETIES. In alluding to the question of relief to soldiers' dependents, yesterday afternoon, at the meeting of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Association, Mr. V. J. Lamer reported that at the last meeting of the Advisory Board a resolution was carried to the effect that the Board was of opinion that as a general principle no relief should be granted to dependents of deserters or eoldiens undergoing imprisonment for civil or military crimes, subject to the right of societies to give relief under special circumstances should it be required, and that societies be requested to accept this resolution as a recommendation from the Board. Speaking to this, Mr. Lamer stated that he looked upon it in the light that we would not assist the dependents of a man who refused to attend when called up by :ballot. Tie man who deserted was practically in the same position. Mr. Bankart pointed out that this would be punishing the dependents of. the man, who would thus be suffering in place of the offender himself. Mr. Lamer replied that some men, knowing that their dependents were assisted by the patriotic societies, were inclined to hold back.

Mr. Tunks stated <that the man -who was inclined to desert did not care twopence about his wife and family. Mr. Bankart quoted the caee of a man who had escaped from gaol, gone to the front, and made good. This man had been recognised. by a warder, who officiously reported him, with the result that lie was brought back to New Zealand to complete his term, and his family -was now Tjeing assisted by the patriotic eociety.

Mr. Gunson: In a case of tha/t kind you could not Tefwse to aeeist them. The matter then dropped, it being understood that, the resolution would be given effect to at the discretion of the committee, and that cases would be\ dealt ■with pa their merits.