SOLDIERS FIRST

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 40, 16 August 1921, Page 8

SOLDIERS FIRST

EXPENDITURE OF CONTRIBUTIONS

"AN ARMY OF OFFICIALS."

The opinion that too much money, contributed for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers, is being spent on administration, was expressed by Mr. William Power, of Taranaki, at to-day's meeting of the Advisory Board of the Federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Societies, during a spirited discussion regarding soldiers dependent upon exhiuisted societies. Bather than have too much money spe.nt in this direction, Mr. Power urged that it should.b« paid ,out to ox-soldiers in need. • A report regarding this aspect of the Rejie'f Societies' work was tabled as fol-' lows: —"The board will require to con-; sider the position of the soldier who is the responsibility of a. society the funds of which are becoming exhausted. The Otago Association has drawn attention to the probability of the position becoming more acute as time goes on. an 4 the Auckland Association considers that tho meeting should discuss the position of Taranaki sick and necessitous soldiers resident outside the Taranaki district' who are requiring assistance. It is clear that the soldier should not be made to suffer through lack of fund£ hold by the responsible society. There are a number of ways in which the position might be met, for instance—(l) By a levy upon financial societies for the purpose of replenishing the funds of those societies requiring assistance; (2) by the War Funds Council replenising the funds of those societies which are becoming exhausted; (3) by societies contributing to a fund to be administered by the Advisory Board for the purpose of assisting deserving soldiers who are unable to obtain relief from the responsible society; (4) By the War Funds Council taking charge of the cases referred, to. The first two suggestions will probably be found impracticable, as at least one society has already expressed its determination not to assist any society which had divided its funds, or which in any other way has exhausted them, and, no doubt, the, War Funds Council would prefer to see such societies go out of existence rather than support them, even if it had to take over the remaining responsibilities itself. Although the position has not become acute, it appears desirable that the board should decide upon some general policy with respect to the question, as, in course of time, those societies which have large responsibilities and small available funds, will become prematurely exhausted." "We do want to get away from this parochial idea that because a man en; listed in Auckland he would receive betfer treatment than if he had enlisted in. Taranaki," said. Mr. R. J. F. Aidrich. "A great-many men in Taranaki will not receive the assistance due to them for the simple' reason that the funds have not been disbursed in a proper manner." He spoke of the attitude adopted by the Returned Soldiers' Association in regard to.the scheme carried out in Taranaki, which had not been viewed favourably by that. body. He expressed the hope tihat if Taranaki had not the wherewithal to assist men five, ten, fifteen, or twenty years hence, the War Council would come to the assistance of IJhose men. In reply Mr. W. Power (Taranaki) defined the scheme adopted by the Taranaki Asso'crotiou, and pointed out that local Returned Soldiers' Associations had expressed'appreciation of what was being done In i Taranaki. He contended that Mr. Aldrich's statement was contrary to | fact. In no case in Taranaki had a man misused the money granted to him. The maximum grant made was £250. The scheme, which was based on physical impairment rather than economic disability, was operating successfully, and was brought about to avoid the funds', being hoarded up for an indefinite period, and to have them expended on sick and wounded soldiers. In the earl-w days the Taranaki War Relief Association strongly supported a Dominion scheme for the disbursement of patriotic funds, but unfortunately this could not be brought about. However, the next best thing had b«en obtained—a provincial' policy. Notwithstanding the small amount of funds under Taran&ki's control, the expenditure had been wise, and they had been able to grant the same liberal measure of assistance as that granted by other associations, and, with tihe funds at its disposal, Taranaki, he contended, had granted more practical assistance than other associations, "There must be an end of the, funds," Mr. Power concluded. "Isn't it better 'to spend the money on the men than to spend it on ah army of paid officials." The funds were set up for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers, and it was never intended that the associations would operate for more than from five to ten years. Mr. Lamer (Auckland) considered that Taranaki did not look far enough ahead. It was necessary to do this. .Mr. Power pointed out that the expenditure of the Taranaki Association over a period of five years was about half that which the principal associations were spending in one year. There was too much money being spent on administration. After further discussion the following motion was carried:—"That in the event of the funds of any society becoming exhausted, that the soldiers who by domicile are the responsibility of such society, shall became the responsibility of the War Funds Council."