WAR RELIEF

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 41, 17 August 1917, Page 7

WAR RELIEF

CONFERENCE OF SOCIETIES^

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

The annuai conference of delegates representing the War Relief Societies in New Zealand, which opened in Wellington, yesterday morning, was concluded at 5 o'clock in the evening. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp (Wellington) presided, and there was a large attendance. Much important business wa« transacted. Towards the end of the conference, remits were rushed through very rapidly.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE

A remit from Auckland read: "That the affiliated societies be advised that assistance from the patriotic funds should not generally be declined to returned soldiers upon the ground that they may not be entirely without money at the time of applying for assistance, as such a course would be placing a p-e----mium upon thriftlessnese, and do injustice in many cases to deserving men who, by their steadiness and thrift, have saved a littlo money which will be absorbed in their personal needs or in reestablishing themselves. la many such cases reasonable assistance from the patriotic funds is due, would afford satisfaction to the donors of the fund, and at the same time be thoroughly deserved by the applicant."

This was carried without discussion.

DISCHARGED FROM CAMP.

There was no discussion on the following remit from Auckland, which was adopted:—"That the conference affirm the desirability of all patriotic associations assisting men in necessitous circumstances who have been discharged from the training camps, as a large number of such men have made great personal sacrifices. On their return to civilian life considerable hardship in often experienced, and in many cases there is an inability arising from their breakdown in camp or from the strain of training to follow previous occupations. That, notwithstanding the recent concessions of four weeks' pay and. pension right 6 granted by the Government to men in these circumstances, the conference is of opinion that assistance from the patriotic associations in necessitous cases is desirable." UNIFORM SCALE OF RELIEF. There was a remit on the order paper urging tho desirability of. immediate effect being given to the proposal contained in the remit from the Canterbury Patriotic Society as to a generally uniform policy for the Dominion in respect of administration of patriotic funds, also in regard to a scale of assistance which will be a guide, subject to reasonable discretion. The Chairman stated that the matter had been considered by the Advisory Board, which would shortly submit a uniform scale to all societies. The remit wae referred to the Advisory Board. BROKEN DOWN IN 1 CAMP. Two remits dealing with men broken down in camp were moved on behalf of Gisborne and carried:—"(l) That in view of the number of men who break down while undergoing training, and are discharged or are given leave without pay, a recommendation be made to the Defence authorities that a more careful and thorough medical examination be made before the men are sent into camp. (2) That in cases where men break down, or contract an infectious disease, while undergoing military training, a- careful medical examination should be made, and should their health be found to have been impaired they should be kept on full pay until fit to resume civilian duties, or until the Pension Board has dealt with the case." I MARRIED MEN'S ALLOTMENTS, j

Mr. E. Macduff Birrell (Gisborne) moved:—"That it is very_ necessary that the general rule of named soldiers' allotments to their wives not taking effect until date of embarkation should be altered, and be made compulsory for the men to make such allotments so soon as they enter camp, and that the Government be urged to carry this into effect," and in doing so asserted that patriotic societies bad been put to considerable expense owing to the action of husbands who did not realise their responsibilities. Representations had been made to the Minister for Defence, who had sent a frivolous reply. '

Mr. J. t Nash supported the remit, and and several speakers stated that they regarded the matter as one of great urgency.

The romit was adopted.

DISABLED SOLDIERS,

Mr. R. M. Birrell (Gisborne) moved: —"That the Government be urged to seriously consider the disabled soldiers' question, with a view of doing all that is possible to make them physically fit., and at the same time to teach them something that will benefit them in their future career, in justice to the individual, and from an economic point of view of the country."

The remit was can'ied without discussion.

A CLAIM FOR SAILORS

Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp (Wellington) moved:—"That the Financial Assistance Board should be empowered to assist sailors and their dependents in the same way as soldiers atid their dependents are now being helped."

The remit was carried on the voices. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BOARD,

Mr. Cyrus Williams (Canterbury) moved:—"That the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board be urged to supply patriotic societies periodically with schedules giving details of assistance rendered to soldiers' dependents to enable such societies to determine whether additional assistance is necessary."

The Chairman stated that the board was not permitted tp send out lists dotailing the assistance given, in fear that the list might become public. Any information' applied for by a patriotic society would be given.

Mr. J. J. Dougall (Canterbury) said lie .was not satisfied with the position. Itseemed that the Government would not trust the societies.

The motion was lost on a division. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.

Mr. J. J. Dougall (Canterbury) moved: "In view of the valuable concessions granted by the Post and Telegraph Department to patriotic societies, all. societies be urged to utilise telegraphic facilities only in urgent cases." This was agreed to. TENSIONS ADMINISTRATION.. Mr. G. Cray (South Canterbury) moved the folio-wing remit dealing with the administration of the War Pensions Act: " That the Government be urged to give effect to the War Pensions Act by appointing local advisory committees in'the various military districts, so that applicants for pensions may present their cases personally to the local board, whose decisions could if necessary be madje subject to review by the central board." It was added that at the present time- injustices do occur through the central board in Wellington ■ not being able! to obtain first-hand' knowledge of the facts, and through the inability of the applicants to put his case properly, by corre*£pnd.enee 5

Mr,. Cray ■stated thafc,..becatiEe-4'} lePre": .sent Tboard was oveem6rissd, r 'injustices twere done- in. some-cases* TheJemiVwas adopted. TRAINING COLLEGES "FOR ' SOLDIERS. . On behalf of Ashburton it wasTnoved^ "That the Government should immedi-i ately take steps to establish a training college for disabled* and crippled soldiers, where expert advice-and tr#iningr-insuit-< able crafts und industries \wbuld be given, enabling them to re-enter civil life with: a reasonable prospect•• of ■earning.a fair, living." The Chairman statea that he had dis-i cussed the matter with the Hon. A, L. Herdman, who had stated that itn-rould be useless to erect new colleges mntil'tha present technical colleges were full. The motion was carried. COMFORTS ON TRANSPORTS.

Hon. J. T. Paul (Dunedin) moved":' "That the advisory board be asked tcr decide on some equitable and effective, plan of supplying comforts and amuse-:; merits to the transports leaving the\Do-:i minion."

Several speakers asserted that- ample' i provision was being made at present,.aiid! that there was no need for the remit.

The remit was withdrawn.