PATRIOTIC EXECUTIVE

Evening Star, Issue 16994, 17 March 1919, Page 6

PATRIOTIC EXECUTIVE

The monthly meeting of the executive of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association was held this morning, the Mayor (Mr Clark, 0.8. E.) presiding. THE NTH AM SCHOLARSHIP FUND. The Hon. Secretary of the Otago and Southland Women’s Patriotic Association wrote stating that, though in sympathy with any scheme to provide scholarships I for soldiers, the members thought it a | Government duty, and not, one to be fulfilled by private effort.—Received. PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS. The Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs wrote suggesting that such gift goods and parcels for soldiers as were on route or in the hands of societies should he forwarded as a final shipment, and the department duly advised : also that any goods in hand unsuitable for shipment be distributed by the societies for the use of local military camps and hospitals, railage charges to the nearest camp or hospital being undertaken by the department.—Noted. SOLDIERS AND DEPENDENTS. DIFFERENTIATION OF ALLOWANCE EXPLAINED. The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report of the Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee. said that the main feature was the greatly increased amount the committee were giving among the returned soldier.?, and the reduction winch was now necessary to the dependents of soldiers. Last month something over £I.OOO was given to returned men to help them in various wavs, and the usual comforts were given i i soldiers in hospital. Something ~vor £SO a month was now being given lor this purpose. The report also showed • the large number of cases now being considered. During one month 231 cases came up. The mufti allowance was also a big qun. and in spite of what the Government were doing there was a matter of £770 distributed for that purpose. It was a striking feature, and one which spoke well for tec committees work, that few cases were turned down. Only three ca»cs wove absolutely refused. Mr M'Alien said there was a rumor goinv about to the effect that certain men got t-lioir mufti allowance without any trouble, while others of apparently equal service were turned down. The chairman said they could not treat any two men exactly alike. There were men who had contribute/! largely to help their mothers or wives, and those were not in the same category as those who had a big accumulation of pay and wore in a position to provide their own mufti. Mr Solomon. K.C. (chairman of the committee) said the funds were provided to be distributed among soldiers who woro in need, and the committee scrutinised every caso to see that the soldier was in reasonable need of assistance. They used every endeavor to give each man what he asked for, and tho men were given tho benefit of any doubt that might exist. It was only "when tho commit tee wore absolutely satisfied that the applicant did not need assistance that tho application was refused. Tho best answer to Mr M‘Allen was that in 231 cases only three were refused. The committee were now able to bo more generous than was possible before, because they knew approximately their liability; and therefore nearly every man got assistance. In an overwhelming proportion of cases the men’s demands were reasonable, but there were - are eases where a fe.\v questions elicited the fact that a man had go no away without any dependents, and having allotted 3s or 4s a day to be kept back for himself, returned with ft credit of some £2CO. Mr Solomon gave an instance to show how tho committee treated necessitous cases generously. A young man of needy parentage, who was not tit to resume his university studies upon return, asked for £IOO a year for four years to study dentistry. “The speaker communicated with Mr Russell, suggesting a bursary of £SO a year. This was granted, and the Soldiers’ Committee subsidised it to the tune of £SO a yewr. Tho young- man was thus ahl" to continue his studios. The report was adopted. TREASURER'S REPORT, The Treasurer reported that the total receiots to date wore £307,121. 11s 3d, and the expenditure, since last meeting i 7 11s; the total expenditure £295,599. EXECUTIVE MEETINGS. It was suggested that the meetings should in future be held quarterly. Mr ..oiomon spoke strongly of the failure of members to attend the meetings, and Mr M'Allcn said those who did not attend •should re®ism and make room for those who would. The chairman suggested that the number of the executive should be reduced, bub this was a matter for notice ol motion. It was decided' that tho next meeting be held prior to the annual meeting in May. Tho position, to-day was, tliat of an executive of. 25, only 11 were present. 1*..-,- >-■ " ■X—- v. , :.ti,