PATRIOTIC WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 121, 23 May 1940, Page 9

PATRIOTIC WORK

RECENT CONFERENCE

DEPUTATION TO MR. FRASER

SIMILAR VIEWS

A•. deputation of representatives of the National Patriotic Council, the National Patriotic Fund. Board, and the provincial pr.truotic councils ■waited on the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser) yesterday to place before him a number of decisions arrived at by the representatives of the patriotic bodies in conference at Wellington last week. There was also present the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), the Minister of Defence Xthe Hon. F. Jones), and the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry)'. The deputation for. over two hours received a most sympathetic hearing. It comprised Mr. R. H. Nimmo, Colonel A. J. Cowles, Dr. Alexander Gillies, Mr. K. L. Usmar (Auckland), and Mr. G. A. Hay den (secretary-treasurer of the National Patriotic Fund Board). The deputation found that the Government to a very large extent has the same ideas in mind as those expressed at the recent conference, and the opinion was formed that the welfare of our forces both in New Zealand and overseas, and upon their return to the Dominion will be the better for the discussion. The. Prime Minister thanked the deputation for its statement, and reques.ted it to convey to the National Patriotic Council, the National Patriotic Fund Board, the provincial patriotic councils, and air the people of New Zealand who are assisting the patriotic effort, his very sincere thanks and appreciation of ttie wonderful work they are doing in a voluntary capacity. GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. The conference decisions placed before the Prime Minister referred particularly to the rehabilitation of discharged members of the fighting forces and benefits for them and their dependants. First, the opinion was expressed that,, in view of the fact that the rehabilitation of all discharged members of the. fighting forces and their dependants is essentially the responsibility of the Government, and that any assistance from patriotic funds can be only of a temporary nature and supplementary to Government aid, it is imperative and urgent that the Government define the extent of its proposed activities regarding rehabilitation and assistance to dependants. Attention was drawn to the fact that applications already have been received for assistance from men discharged from camp without means to re-establish themselves in civilian walks of life. It was pointed but that in certain instances the applicants were, without civilian clothes, money, or jobs to go to. The Government, .therefore, was asked to make arrangements to pay a minimum of, say, two ■weeks' pay, plus relevant allowances for wife and dependent children, when rio pension or other Army pay is immetfiately available on discharge, to meri who are iri future discharged from the fighting forces. Another resolutipn.of the conference asked that, irrespective of the period of residence in New Zealand, all men discharged frqm the New Zealand fighting forces after serving, abroad, should be eligible for unemployment and sickness benefits under the Social Security Act. The Government was also; urged to pass legislation prescribing that no benefits received from patriotic organisations be taken into account so as in any way to reduce the amount of benefit-to which any applicant would otherwise be entitled under Social Security, war pensions, and/or other relevant legislation. A further sug-. gestion was that all pay-books issued in the future contain a memorandum indicating that the retention^ of the pay-book is essential for rehabilitation purposes and that an endeavour be made to have a similar notice included in divisional orders. A sample notice was suggested as follows: —"Be careful to retain this pay-book, otherwise difficulties .in regard to rehabilitation will arise." , - . In the event of a gratuity being granted to members.of the fighting forces after.demobilisation, it was suggested that the method of payment be designed so as to ensure that the recipient and his dependants obtain the fullest benefit from the gratuity. Another decision of the conference asked that the Minister request Base Records to supply particulars of all men accepted for service with any of the forces to the secretaries of the provincial patriotic councils, both in the place of enlistment and in the place of residence of his next-of-kin. CANTEEN PROFITS. Two other decisions of the conference placed before the.Prime Minister dealt with the making of hussifs and the distribution of canteen profits. The first asked the Government to make provision ' for the importation of materials and contents required for hussifs, provided the articles are not procurable in New Zealand. The conference: expressed, the opinion that the women of New Zealand are quite willing . and- capable to provide for the making of the hussifs. The other conference decision was that the Government be;. asked to arrange with the Canteens Fund Board«for a monthly distribution to regimental funds from profits from the canteens, that provincial councils be advised of such distribution, and that a balance-sheet be submitted after each echelon has sailed.