N.Z. SOLDIERS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1940, Page 2

N.Z. SOLDIERS

SUPPORT OF DEPENDENTS. (Per Press Association—Copyright). WELLINGTON, May 17. A. conference of the National Patriotic Fund Board, the National Patriotic Council, and the Provincial Patriotic. Councils held in Wellington, concluded to-day. It approved of al. of the . Provincial Councils adopting a uniform method of dealing with temporary relief assistance and support of ex-members of the fighting forces them, selves. Under the procedure adopted by the conference, the Provincial Councils art to arrange for the establishment, through each of their inter-zone committees, or zone executives, *:a f ‘ specia’ sub-committee to deal exclusively with the rehabilitation and relief of distress problems. This Committee is to consist of members appointed from the personnel of the inter-zone committee, or the zone executive, and of a number nominated by. the. local branch of the N.Z.R.S.A. •Except in exceptional circumstances, the assistance granted by; the spending. agents of the Provincial Councils is to be limited to the following weekly. amounts:— Widow or wife: £2. Male applicant: £2; his wife £l. A grant, of 10s may be made to each dependent child. ~ \. ■ The maximum for any one family is to be £5 per week. Assistance will be given either bv way of non-transferable orders for goods, dr services available locally, or btl way of cash payments, as the subcommittee think most appropriate. Another provision recommends that arrangements may be made for acceptance orders on moneys which may RCcome due from a Government Department. It is proposed, also, that no form of assistance whatever be given in the case of any discharged member of the fighting forces, without the production of his pay-book, or a duly-issued duplicate. Brief particulars of the holn given are to be entered in a pay-book. All the particulars are to be treated as strictly; confidential. These proposals relate only to temoorary relief. The Conference took the view that, as the rehabilitation of all discharged men and their deoendents is essentially a responsibility of the Government, a/iy assistance from the Patriotic Funds can onlv be of a temporary nature, and supplementary to Government aid.