SOLDIERS' HOME.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16470, 13 March 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS' HOME.

PROVISION FOB DISABLED VETERANS. PATRIOTIC FUND DISCUSSION. On October 2oth, 1916, tlio executive of tbo Canterbury Patriotic Fund corriod the following resolution: "Thnt the snm of £10.000 be sot, nsido for the purposo of erecting at some future date, institutions for the benefit of permanently maimed' and disabled soldiers.'' At yesterday's meeting of the executive, Mr E. Xordon • moved that this motion bo rescinded. Colonel 11. A. Chaffey, in :i letter apologising for his absonco, said ho was in favour of the resolution being rescinded, and that it bo replaced by a motion to provide a weekly, monthly, or voarly nllownnco to those" that might be in need of it. Colonel Chaffey enclosed a letter from Major W. S. AVallis, of the Orthopaedic Hospital, stating that ho had been asked to comment upon the question of the establishment of a liomo for permauentty disabled men.

"It ia an exceedingly difficult matter to say how many permanently disabled men aro likely to exist in Christckurcli ut tlio conclusion of matters," ho eaid. "I conaider that tliers will bo sufficient to justify tho establishment o£ eucli a homT>, nud conaider the typo of mail who will lx> permanently disabled will bo of each u class as to bo better looked after in a. homo than ill a private house. Many of tho men conccrned will bo paralysis ccaea, and I consider that in tho iimo to corns tlieeo men will bo more comfortable and better looked after in such an institution than if they wore dependent upon their friends, supplemented by financial help from an association. Many of the 3© cases will require special nursing: such as they will l>a unable to obtain in many instances at homo. It ia to be remembered also that tho men concerned aro men havo given everything for their country and aro condemned to a life of helplessness, und, in many eases, pain. Surely those men al'O entitled to everything that can be dono for them or given to them, _ and I think that a properly conducted institution is tho most efficient way of seeing that their noeds aro properly filled."

Mr Xordon, in moving tho motion, said ho was doing so as chairman or the Adequacy of Fund Committees which had' arrived at a unanimous conclusion. The Returned Soldiers' Association was in favour of the rescinding of the motion. If a soldiers' homo was to bo established in tho citythen tho proper authority to establish it was the Government, which had not risen to its duty. If they were not careful, the Patriotic Fund would bo made to provide for many things which it was the dutv of tho Governmont to attond to. Mr W. H. E. AVanklyn seconded the motion.

Mr Cvrus Williams opposed it. The Mayor (Mr H. Holland) saul lie would support the motion, fho Lacly Liverpool Fund had gjiven £4000 to tho Patriotic Fund for the purposo or establishing a veterans' home, should one bo roquirod. In fourteen years time that amount would be doubled. He and others had gone into tho matter, and felt satisfied a voterans' home would not bo wanted by tho soldiers at present. Furthermore, tho Returned Soldiers' Association informed him that one was not required at present. _ •Mr W. Radcliff opposed tho motion. Mr H. A. Knight moved, as an amendment: "That a special committee bo set up to present a scheme to utilise the sum -of - £10,000 specially earmarked for a soldiers' and sailors' home. The chairman ruled the amendment out of order. Mr Knight asked members to get out of their heads altogether the ordinary idea of- a home. In this connexion lie mentioned a villago garden scheme. -1" tho men could not contfol the institution on their own account, possibly thd Returned Soldiers' Association oould do ifc. Mr Nordon said til© Returned soldiers' Association were opposed to tho Home, but perhaps they were not the best judge of the matter. Men would; for many years require a home and attention. It might not go on for ever, but even if it were for ten years tho expenditure of £10,000 would justify itself. If they waited for_ the Government to act, the men might be dead. Ho did not know when the Lady Liverpool Fund would bo available. Tlvo chairman: At once, Mr Knight said perhaps £10,000 would not bo enough; certainly £4000 would not. He was solTy the amendment had not been > accepted,_ as he was afraid of tho original motion being rescinded. . They would not got tho money now. They might not regret it now, but thoy would in years to come. To put the matter in another form ho would move:. "That tho matter bo held over for tlirce months."

Mr H. 13. Sorenson seconded the amendment.

Mr F. "NY. Hobbs said ono of the clauses of the Repatriation Act put on the Repatriation Hoard the care and attention of disabled men. A committee had been appointed to go into the matter, and if they thought a scheme advisable they would report to the Government urging it-. For that reason l ho urged postponement of consideration of the matter.

Mr J. CI. Coop considered that they should build a home for disabled soldiers. He claimed that the fund did not have sufficient money. It should) ask the public for another £100,000. 31 r Nordon said no member of tho Adequacy of Fund Committee "was opposed to spending the money; it waa only a question of how the money could be best spent. Mr T. Stone spoke in support of tho amendment.

Mr J. Coo said steps should be taken to ascertain if there were sufficient soldiers to put into a home. Tho average man who came back from the front did Hot wish to be put into a home. Mr A. Boyle urged them not to split their camp, but to postpone tho matter in tho meantime and go into the question, keeping the £10,000 liquid for the present.

Mr Nordon urged tho executivo not to turn down the committee's report. Common courtesy demanded that the report bo referred back to the committee.

Mr Knight said ho had no objection to this. . He .accordingly Avas given permission to withdraw his amendment, and moved that tho matter bo referred back to the committee to report. After some further discussion Mr Knight's amendment was carried. Upon Mr TosswilPs motion, it was resolved that the Adequacy Committee ba constituted into a special committee, with power to add to'their number, to go into the question.