"HERITAGE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 112, 13 May 1944, Page 9

"HERITAGE"

NATIONAL SCHEME CONFERENCE PROBABLE At the monthly meeting of the executive of the Wellington branch of "Heritage," held on Thursday, a number of interesting matters in connection with the work of the movement on behalf of the children of servicemen was dealt 'with. Until a national conference of all branches of "Heritage" can be held, the Wellington executive acts also as the national executive of the movement. In this connection it has been decided that if railway permits are available, the first national : conference will be held in July.l Branches (have now been formed and ' incorporated in nine places: i n the Dominion, and-the formation of seven more branches^is under way. The national conference will elect an executive to look after the interests of "Heritage" as a national movement, and to co-ordinate the work of the branches. Suggestions for the extension ;of its work, and for assistance that "Heritage" can render to the | daughters of .deceased servicemen, in' addition to the sons, will'also be dis-, cussed there, and a pojicy of expansion decided upon. One of the branches drew the attention of the executive to the length of time that elapsed between notification of the death of a serviceman and the offer of help to the mother, a period of approximately three months in most cases and even six months in others. The secretary reported that with a view to speeding up notifications he had made inquiries. The position was that Base Records did not have the necessary information concerning dependent children, and the movement had therefore to wait until the case was dealt with by the Social Security Department, whose officers secured the latest information as to number of children prior to the granting of the pension. Because the wife continued to receive Army pay for three months after the death of her husband overseas, it was usually about that time before "Heritage" was in possession of the information which allowed it to notify the branches and to offer assistance to the children. It was also pointed out that in some cases' the wives of men overseas were not classified as next-of-kin, and that by attempting to speed up notification by acting upon newspaper reports of casualties some cases might easily, be overlooked. After discussion it was decided. that, despite the unavoidable delay, the present system was the best, as it made certain that every widow with childrfen came under the notice of "Heritage." It was also decided to notify branches that where, because of local knowledge, they were in possession of authentic information concerning the wives and families of men whose death was notified in the papers, they could obviate the delay by making the necessary approach at an appropriate time. The executive discussed the question as to bow best to assist the children of Maori soldiers whose deaths are reported. Members of the executive are discussing this question with the Minister of Native Affairs, and with others concerned with the welfare of the Maori race, and it is hoped that definite proposals will be ready for consideration by the first national conference. ■- . • The Minister of Education wrote inviting "Heritage" to send a delegate to a conference.in Christchurch in August, at which questions regarding all aspects of education and welfare of pre-school and other children will be discussed. It was decided to accept the invitation and that the educational and vocation committee 'of "Heritage" should formulate suggestions for. the consideration of this conference.