FOR UNIFORMITY

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1917, Page 6

FOR UNIFORMITY

IN-WAR RELIEF WORK.

When the patriotic societies -were-first! federated and an Advisory Board was formed attempts were made, but with little success, to attain uniformity in, the matter of grants to soldiers and assistance to dependents. The Advisory Board yesterday decided to make a further attempt to achieve something in tMs direction. The matter was introduced by Mr. J..*T. Dougall (Christcnurch), and ' members of the board generally expressed the opinion that on this occasion the effort would' meet with more success.

Mr. Dougall, moved.:—"That all affiliated societies be asked.to supply, the board with the following information : ; (1) Particulars of the constitution of the society; (2) the funds available for disbursement ; (3) the scale upon , which grants are made to dependents of (a) soldiers'on service, (b) deceased soldiers; (4) the : scale upon which grants are '■. made, to incapacitated soldiers; (5) scale I upon which grants or- advances are made i to soldiery to; take up land or start in f business; and that a sub-committee, con- jsistinjr of the chairman (Mr. Tripp), vice- s chairman (Mr. Dougall), Mr. Lamer, j and the Hon. J. T. Paul, be set up to ! consider .the advisability, of recommend- j ing a uniform scale-of relief throtighoui] f the Dominion." . . |

Mr. Dougall urged that the absence of uniformity had caused the Returned Soldiers' Association' to suggest that the] funds should ,be taken over by the! Government. 'Some societies would not make grants from capital until- the' war j was'overj others could not assist men! on the land. The difference of arrange-j ments was not fair to the soldiers, and! was disconcerting to the societies. |

The\nbn. J. T. 1 Paul seconded the motion, which was unanimously agreed to.