ASSISTANCE FOR SOLDIERS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23477, 4 November 1941, Page 6

ASSISTANCE FOR SOLDIERS

Central Record System ASSOCIATION SEEKS INFORMATION Proposals for the central recording of all assistance given returned soldiers of the present war were discussed by the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening. It is proposed that records be kept by the repatriation division of the Department \of National Service, and that each man on discharge receive a discharge book in which particulars of assistance shall be entered.

The proposals were referred back to Wellington because it was considered that they meant furnishing a Government department with particulars which might be used to the detriment of the men concerned when they applied for economic pension or social security benefits. A circular from Dominion headquarters of the association forwarded a letter from Mr A. J. Ridier, controller of the Repatriation Division of the National Service Department, which stated: “Since the Repatriation Division of the National Service Department has now oeen charged with the responsibility of maintaining a central record of all assistance piade to former servicemen, I would be obliged if the Returned Soldiers’ Association would agree to furnish my department with particulars of such aid as it gives to former servicemen from the present war.” The Dominion executive, after considering this letter, decided to request all associations to furnish returns, in the form asked, to the Repatriatiqn Division. Purpose of Record In addition to the maintenance of a central record of all assistance given soldiers after their discharge was the necessity for the organisations from which assistance was sought to have before them particulars of all assistance already given the applicant, the circular continued. To meet this need, a discharge booklet was being issued to every member of the New Zealand forces after his return from overseas and discharge from the forces. This booklet, besides giving brief details of assistance available, provides space for a simple record of assistance granted. The booklet was to be strictly confidential except to the Government departments and the organisations interested in the administration of assistance.

Every association, when considering an application for assistance from a returned soldier of the present war, should see that the applicant produced his certificate of discharge and his discharge booklet. When monetary assistance was granted, the amount, purpose, and date should be entered in the book and signed. In view of the policy of the New Zealand Association—that any mone,tary assistance to needy returned soldiers should not be deemed income for any pension or for social security benefit purposes—the following resolution had been forwarded to the Minister for Internal Affairs:—

“That all funds granted by patriotic committees -.nd Returned Soldiers’ Associations by way of assistance to servicemen of the present war and their dependants be not considered as income so far as economic pensions and social security benefits are concerned. Reasgns for Opposition

. Mr A. E. Haynes said the request meant that the association was asked to furnish the Government with particulars of affairs which the Christchurch association had up to now considered private between it and the men receiving assistance. Formerly such assistance was not counted by the Government as income against a man applying for pension or other benefit, but more recently it had been so counted. Mr E. Orchard said that particulars of the assistance granted out of the Poppy Day money should not be given to any Government department. Mr Haynes said that in the circumstances he would move merely that the action ■of Dominion headquarters in forwarding to the Minister the resolution , about not counting assistance as income be approved. Mr J. S. Chisholm said that, as for the rest of the headquarters statement, he considered the association should dissent. Dominion headquarters had entered into an agreement with a Government department, which should not be countenanced.

The secretary- (Mr E. F, Willcox) said the Apparent purpose was to save double-banking in applications for assistance—to prevent men from going from, one organisation to another, anq from one end of the country to the other. Mr Haynes’s motion was carried.

On the motion of Mr C. Miln. it was decided to refer the earlier part of the circular back to Dominion headquarters for further discussion with Mr Ridler. This, he said, would produce a statement of the real purpose of the request made.