WAR RELIEF WORK

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 156, 17 June 1936, Page 10

WAR RELIEF WORK

Annual Report of Hastings Committee ASSISTANCE GIVEN The past year’s financial operations of the Hastings branch of the Hawke’s Bay War Relief Association are summed up in the following excerpt from the annual report —‘ ‘ During the year the sum of £2305 14/7 was expended in grants and loans, including grunts ou i account of other societies, and the sum of £2138 13/7 was paid back on account of loans made in this and previous years. The grants this year amounted to £1595 9/6 and the loans to £7lO 5/1, the number of soldiers or dependants of soldiers assisted being 771. Grants amounting to £l5O were received from the Hunter Soldiers’ Assistance Trust Board for expenditure on certain orphans of returned soldiers, and our appreciation is extended to that board for the favourable manner in which our representations have been dealt with. The sum of £174, representing this branch’s allocation of the National War Funds Council's distribution towards tho relief of distress due to unemployment, was expended principally in subsidising work for unemployed returned soldiers, an equivalent sum being paid direct to the men by the exsoldier or civilian employer.

“Every case handled,’’ adds the report, “has been dealt with according to its special circumstances, the policy of the association of treating each case strictly on its merits being adhered to. “During the year many applications were received for assistance to obtain war pensions. As 17 years have passed since the war ended it will be at once realised that a great amount of time and work is necessary to enable an application to be placed before the War Pensions Board with the evidence necessary to establish a claim for a war pension. Seventy-three applications were filed during the year, and as a result pensions were granted to 23 returned eoiriiers and to 37 individual deperZants of returned soldiers. It is C7?isidered that tho number of pensions granted has been quite satisfactory. Several cases were taken before the War Pensions Appeal Board, and our secretary attended at Wellington as the soldiers’ advocate, with successful results in the majority of cases. “Since the passing of the War Veterans’ Allowances Act, 1935, several burnt-out soldiers have been assisted to obtain pensions under this Act. “Many returned soldiers in hospital or ill at their homes have been visited and supplied with comforts in the way of tobacco, etc., and members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association have assisted in this work. On several occasions arrangements were made for the funerals of returned soldiers who died in this district. “It is noteworthy that Mr H. Hold- - erness was again elected president of the Hastings Returned Soldiers’ Association and that Mr L. J. Mackersey and our secretary, Mr F. 11. Gold finch, were re-elected to the committee. “The committee met on 21 occasions during the year and au average or 51 cases was dealt with at each meeting, a total of 1983. These cases included applications by rcturneil soldiers for assistance by way of grant or loan and for variation of terms of repayment of existing loans, for help lo obtain medical attention, for assistance io obtain pensions mid for relief in various other ways. The members of the committee have regularly attended the meetings held during the year; Mr 1.. J. Mackersey attended 21, Mr F. J. Hull 19, Mr F. Perrin 19, Mr W. Hart 18 and Mr 11. Ilolderness 10. “We are indebted to oir delegate I<> the provincial executive, Mr L. .1. Mackersey, for his regular attendance at the executive meetings, held in Na pier, mid we appreciate the manner in which the committee's ieceminendatioiis have been received by the executive of tho association. “We must record with regret, that since the end of tho flnnncia! year Mr

11. Holderness has had to resign from the committee, because' of illness; he may be assured that all members of the association and returned soldiers sincerely hope that he will soon bo restored to good health. His services on the committee have been invaluable; he expended a great amount of time and trouble in the interests of returned soldiers. Mr A. J. M. Manson has been appointed to the committee to fill the vacancy, and the association and returned soldiers generally arc fortunate in securing his services. “