BLINDED SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 274, 13 August 1920, Page 3

BLINDED SOLDIERS

MR. CLUTHA MACKENZIE'S APPEAL

MINISTER VETOES A SCHEME

During the past six months Mr. Clutha Mackenzie., has,forwarded letters, to the various patriotic societies suggesting Unit' a special fund should be sot up lor the benefit of blinded soldiers, and intimafeiug his wish to be associated with the administration of such a fund, as the representative in New Zealand of Sir Arthur Pearson, the patron of St. Dunstan's Hospital for Blind Soldiers. As many of the societies '.referred their letters to the Advisory Board, Mr. Mackenzie was invited w attend/ a meeting of the board, and explain his views. ' In tho meantime, the following letter was received by the board-from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. J. Anderson))— "I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter with reference to circulars issued by Mr. Clutha Mackenzie regarding the establishment of a special war fundi to provide for the 'after care' of blind New Zealand soldiers, and to advise'you that the appeal made is a contravention of sertlion 33 of the War Legislation Act, 1917, and under the provisions of the Act Mr. Mackenzie cannot legally receive or disburse moneys on account of blinded soldiers or any patriotic effort. "As the function of providing 'relief and assistance to soldiers and their dependants' is vesrjed in the various incorporated societies, I am advised that each case has received liberal consideration at the hands of the executive committees governing such funds, who are acting in conjunction wh'h the Commercial Travellers' and Warehousemen's Blind Soldiers' Fund, I see no good reason to alter the present arrangements, which are satisfactory to incapacitated or indigent men and their families, who'have suffered disability from war service from any cause whatever; The -system of pensions to blind men is on the highest scale, viz.: £i per week for each man, and £1 per week for his wife, total of ,£5 per week, In addition, the provisions of the Repatriation Acs! and the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act are applicable to them, irrespective of pension, and sustenance may be applied them on a generous, scale, to enable them l'o be,educated in a direction which will enable them to follow an occupation, or to provide them with any_ necessary equipment • in connection with the avocation selected.

''The to'al numbor of : men afflicted by blindness is small, and all are under the direct care of the executives of the ■Provincial Incorporated War Funds, who have settled the men in comfortable .circumstances among their friends, and who keep regularly in touch wiiih them, . not only with a sympathetic view to their welfare, but naturally to see that ijlie best übo is being made of_fhe investments entered into for their uiainienance jmd comfort "Thel.proposal made to draw upon the funds of the incorporated societies, pro rata, for-tho purpose of establishing a Dominion Blind Soldjers' 'After Care' Fund.cannot'be carried'out, inasmuch as there is 'no.statutory or other power fo compel existing patriotic societies iio contribute to such a fund, and sonio of the princiml societies, inluding the Commercial" Travellers' and Warehousemen's . Bliiid Soldiers' Fund, are not prepared ■ fo; forgo their present, trusts.' In these circumstances, I do not see my way to approve of the establishment of a new war fund," ■ •.' An Amended Proposal. , The Advisory Board met yesterday' in Wellington, and heard Mr.- Mackenzie; who, in lieu- of the .620,000 fund, suggested, ilhat the societies should dub to--getller to provide the sum of ,£I2OO ii year for his travelling expenses, office rent, subsidising of blind soldiers' businesses (i!C0O ayeai l ), etc. ' One of tho proposals : was for a reunion of the blind men (there an only 24 in all) once a .ysir'iu each island. The chairman (Mr. Tripp) said that with so many societies already in existence .it would be a pity to establish another. The Commercial Travellers' Club, which had a fund for blind sol-'. dicrs, was administering it quite admirably, working in all the time witTi tho War Belief Association. ..-%'■ Mr. W. Wiut (of the Travellers' Club) gave a brief account of. the fund (which in all had amounted to ..C535Q), but was now-■pitiably weak. A £1.0,000 Scheme.' J After a long discussion the board passed "the following, resolution:—"That this board advises the various paiHotic societies ef New Zealand'to-set apart on a .population basis the sum of JSIO.OOO for the welfare of blind soldiers, such sum to be ■ vested in trustees, and invested in any security authorised by the Trustee Act, 1908, or any amendment or Act. passed in substitution therefor, the income from such investment it) accumulatefor at least five years, ' ' On the motion of Mr,' V. ,T. Lamer seconded by Mr. J, J. Dougall, it was decided: "That for the immediate; 'after care'-of blinded soldiers the patriotic societies be'recommended to continue to assist in a similar manner to what has been done, in the past, and that the Commercial Travellers'- Fund be asked to provide for the snpcTvieion-nnd assistance suggested by Mr. Chrfha Mackenzie.

On Two motion of. jrr. Snodgrass, it wag agreed that the Government be npproached'to appoint a repntriatinn offin Pr to a'tend to the "after care" of Winded •soldiers. '