HELPING THE SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 20311, 21 October 1929, Page 11

HELPING THE SOLDIERS

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION'S * ACTIVITIES CLAIMS CONTINUE TO INCREASE HO “ SPONGERS " APPEALING FOR ASSISTANCE The growing demands being made on the Otago Pati’iotic and General Welfare Association, although the war has been over nearly ten years, were discussed again at the half-yearly meeting of the association to-day. There were present Messrs R. S. Black (president), J. J. Clark, G. A. Lowin, F. G. Gumming, J. T. Paul, J. Horn, J. Begg, J. B. Shaddock, H. L. Paterson, J. L. .Salinond, D. E. Theomin, and G. G. Denniston. z On the motion of Mr Denniston, seconded by Mr Theomin, the association resolved that £I,OOO be withdrawn from the money at call deposited with the City Council, and paid into the banking account. The Finance Committee considered that the time was opportune to reduce the overdraft, in view of the fact that the rate of interest on overdraft at the bank was higher than the ■interest received on deposit at call with the corporation. In his report, the secretary (Mr E. R. Grace) said the transference would provide a small credit balance to commence the half-year. The overdraft which would shortly begin to accrue would be offset by receipt of debenture interest, £1,235, during the March quarter. The position might then be reviewed, if necessary, at the end of March next. It was advantageous to run for a portion of each half-year on overdraft, so that the periodical receipt of debenture interest would not go to swell a credit on current account at the bank which was not returning interest. It would have been noted by members that during the past two years the National War Funds Council had granted sums of money periodically to assist the association to meet calls on its funds due to abnormal labour conditions. The amount so received '£1,150), together with grants from the Smeaton Fund through the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company, and the Lilian Mitchell Fund, through the Perpetual Trustees, had substantially checked the depletion of the fund during the past two years. “ Though the work is routine, it must not bo regarded as purely formal work,” said Mr Clark, when moving the adoption of the report of the Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee. “ Every application is considered iust as carefully and as sympathetically as in the early days of the ivar." In the past quarter the association received its twenty-thousandth application for assistance. The committee believed tht it had dealt with all the applications fairly and as generously as was possible, always regarding the necessity to safeguard the funds. As the years went by it was being impressed upon the committee that the claims were becoming more argent. It would be folly to squander the money, when the needs were becoming greater. Men who returned from the war apparently fit to resume their occupations were breaking down. The years of arduous, painful.'and dangerous work were telling upon them, and many were unable to continue their avocations. There were other men who suffered quite minor injuries, but injuries sufficient to prevent them, in times of difficulty, from obtaining . employment. Hard manual work was not suitable for them, and the association had had to tide such men over the difficult periods. “ And I am glad to say, and the committee will agree with me, that wo find an overwhelming proportion of applications coming before us are from men who are willing to work and are most reluctant to make a claim on the fund,” said Mr Clark. “ The class of ‘spongers’ does not come to us, Unfortunately, there are a few. .but we know them.”- The last half-year was a

very difficult ono on account of unemployment, which was more acute among returned soldiers than it had ever been before, said Mr Clark Thanks to the Poppy Day appeal and the geuerqsitv of the people of Otago, who subscribed very liberally, tlie_ trouble had ben overcome to a certain extent. It was a, pity that the original object of tiio Poppy Day appeal, to help the senndisabled, miabie to secure employment,had to bo modified to enable help to ho given to able-bodied men, whose only; difficulty was inability to obtain work.No overlapping in the work had taken place between the R.S.A. and thei Patriotic Association, which worked harmoniously. The R.S.A. and its representative (Mr Paterson) had been most helpful. In conjunction with the R.S.A.. the association expended a grant of £SOO, to assist the unemployed, from, the National War Funds Council. The co-operation had been an enormous help, and would be continued as it was impossible for the R.S.A. to deal with all claims made on it. The association would note, stated Air Clark, that another assisted bail paid hack the amount due. It was not the aim of tho association to harass those assisted The committee was extremely pleased at the appointment of a commission by the Government, following tho insistent _ application of tho R.S.A., for consideration of the men in receipt of economic pensions. For the Government to. pay; economic pensions when the men v. ora capable of earning a living by work was not desirable. The object of tho committee was to see if work could no found for the men. Employers in Dunedin had been found to be. very sympathetic, hut they cquld only do a certain amount, it being unfair to ask them to take on disabled men incapable of doing a full days work.Since the cessation of the Repatriation. Board the Patriotic Association had subsidised certain wages until the men became fully qualified. The results had been most satisfactory, the men becoming good l , tradesmen: and independent citizens. If some such method could be adopted by the -Government, the men would be soon lit for work and able to find a living. “Our experience has been that m i.oarly every ease where men plead illness we require a medical certificate or an examination by our own doctor,'* concluded Mr Clark. “We find that when the men get out of employment they break down. They are nob malingerers. The men cannot stand the strain of seeing their -wives and families suffering when they are doing nothing. I think the commission will be very helpful, and the committee is anxious to assist in every ivay it can.’' The motion was seconded by Mr Paterson, who expressed the appreciation of the R.S.A. for the association’s work. Without tho Patriotic Association the relief given in the- past would have been impossible. The R.S.Aacknowledged its gratitude to the citizens of Otago, through the association, for the help given It was only when I one came in contact with the men themselves and analysed the claims that one realised their- wide variety i-and the reasons and causes. In many cases, almost a Solomon was needed to judge whether the men deserved tha assistance asked for, and the committee was fortunate in the wisdom of its personnel. Mr Paterson referred to the Economic Pensions Commission. The granting of the pensions had been successful up to a poitft, but, after a few years of working, it was defeating its original purpose. Some disabled men were accepting the pension and becoming total liabilities on tho State. The expenditure of £30,000 last year on the pensions was a serious economic loss to the countx-y. The R.S.A. had many experiences of men accepting tho economic pension and going down rapidly, having no interest in life but the collection of the pension. It was hoped that the commission would suggest a scheme for the employment of the semi-disabled, also helping to reduce some of the claims on. the funds of the R.S.A. and Patriotic Associations. The rehabilitation of the men in time had been successfully proved by such a scheme in England and elsewhere. Tho efforts of. the employers’, manufacturers’, and other associations would have a direct bearing on the decision, of the .commission.. The motion was carried. .