FINANCING SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 9

FINANCING SOLDIERS.

SOME GRIEVANCES AIRED. (By Telegraph.—Special to ••Star. - ') WELLINGTON". Monday. Strong criticism of the Soldier*' Financial Board in regard to it* methods of dealing with retrospective assistance was expressed by -speakers at the conference of the X.Z.K..S. to-night. The question ivae raised by a remit moved by Mr. N. A. Ching (Kawakawa) on behalf of the Waikato Association, as follows: "That in view of the apparent unsympathetic attitude towards applications made by men of the Main Body and earlier reinforcements, applications be made for statistics fettini; out since 31st March last: (a) The number of applications made for retrospective financial assistance: (t>) the number of applicants to whom assistance has been granted." Mr. Chin;; said that he had assisted 200 people to put in applications for aid, but not one of them had btn-n successful. Mr. Andrews (Auckland) said that the Financial Assistance Board was the only Government Department from which an ! answer was received promptly. To him it seemed that each letter was opened, a stereotyped reply was written out, and the application was refused-—all in 24 hours. Other speakers supported these viewsMr. \V. 0. Morpeth, the association's representative on the Financial Assistance Board, said many of the complaints -were made through lack of appreciation of the position. He admitted that the form of the application was involved, but it was necessary for the board to secure as much information as possible. Under the financial assistance scheme any man earning £4 a week or le.«e was better oIT than he was In-fore the war. It was correct that the secretary did not put certain application* before the board, but in tho.-e cases the papers were obviously absurd. The meeting expressed strong dissent with this method. Mr. Morpeth added that much trouble would be. avoided if it was realised that financial assistance was only retrospective to January, 1917. He'added that there was no Government interference in the scheme. Mr. Morpeth'a offer to un.-.\v,. r questions was eagerly accepted, and fur half an hour he was deluged with queries Finally Mr. Ching withdrew his remiti and moved ''That in view of the unsatisfactory manner of dealing with applications, the conference demand that the whole administration of tfhc Soldiers" Financial Assistance Act be placed in the hands of the Repatriation Department " This motion was carried, and it was , also decided to urge upon the Minister to back up the suggestion. The meeting thanked Mr. Morpeth for his attendance. In reply. Mr. Morpeth -aid he was -irepared to show those who had complained that in nine cases out of ten they were ill the wrong.