PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17095, 18 February 1916, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

CONFERENCE OF SOCIETIES. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE STATEMENT-BY MINISTERS. , [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 17. A conference of representatives of patriotic societies commenced to-day. The Hon. - G. W. Russell, who presided, stated' that a large number of men had returned to New Zealand, and their claims for consideration at the hands of both Government and patriotic societies had become so insistent that. ; t was absolutely necessary that there should he a clear definition of the respective spheres in which each would operate. The number of soldiers sent away up to January 17 was 31,788. of whom 3342 had returned. Of these 460 had notified that they needed no further assistance from the State. Assuming that our total forces finally reached' 64,383, on present experience pension demands would amount to £198,156 per annum. To supplement this sum by 50 per cent from the .patriotic societies would require an annual payment .of £98,078, made up as follows:—Auckland military district, £26,850: Wellington. £33.094; Canterbury, £22,884; and Otago, £16,250. This sum might seem a large one, but in a country so richly endowed there should be no difficulty in the State paying its share and the patriotic societies averaging an expenditure which would represent supplamenting by 50 per cent the pensions and' allowances granted by the State.

The Minister said he understood that there was a feeling among some people that the Government desired to dominate the action of patriotic societies. Ho assured the conference that there was no such wish. If it was desired, he \vo,uM be quite willing to leave the conference to representatives of the societies and meet them afterwards. A motion was moved by the Canterbury renresentatiye that the conference should conduct its deliberations solely in the presence of members of patriotic societies and the Press. Eventually the motion to exclude the Minister was withdrawn, and tho conference asked him to preside.

CARE OF SICK AND WOUNDED. Tlip conference then proceeded to discuss suggestions made by the Minister. Hie. first was “ To define the respective responsibilities of the State and patriotic societies with regard to soldiers, either within or beyond New Zealand.”

Several amendments were submitted, the controversy being whether the Government should undertake the responsibility c-f looking after New Zealanders iii Britain.

The Mayor of Wellington said that there was urgent necessity for tho Government to he alive to its responsibilities and not put them on private shoulders. He mover! to make it incumbent on the Government to provide for the needs and comforts of sick and wounded soldiers in Britain and overseas from the time of enlistment till discharge, patriotic societies to ho left to assist in any form thought fit. The chairman assured the delegates that the Government would provide all necessities for sick and wounded at Hofne. but not unnecessary luxury.

The Mayor of Wellington’s proposal was adopted with one dissentient.

SOMMERS' DEPENDENTS. On the motion of Mr Rodger (Southland) it was decided—“ That in the opinion of this conference the responsibility of restoring a returned soldier and bis dependents to as nearly as possible the condition of life they occupied prior to his joining the forces is the •duty of the Government.” Two or three dissentients objected to the. inclusion of dependents.

On the motion of Mr D. M’Lnren, seconded by Mr Cyrus Williams, it was decided—“ That in the opinion of this conference the responsibility of providing for the needs of soldiers' dependents should rest upon tho State, to be supplemented by patriotic societies in special cases.” Delegates stated that they simply asked that the separation 'allowance should he made more adequate to meet the needs of married men. After further discussion the Minister’s first, suggestion was referred to the State and Voluntary Action Committee. FEDERATION OF SOCIETIES.

A resolution was carried affirming the, necessity for establishing a national federation $f patriotic war relief societies, and referring the whole question of federation and organisation to a committee to report at to-morrow’s meeting of conference. The Hon J. T. Paul, while supporting the general idea of federation, objected strongly to anything in the nature, of compelling societies to federate, interfering with their operations and pooling funds.

The Hon G. AY. Russell stated that there was nothing about compulsion in the resolution, and that there was no low in the Dominion under which such compulsion could he exercised.

REMITTANCES. In reply to questions from the delegates, the Hon James Allen stated that remittances to sick and wounded men in England. Egypt and elsewhere, when made to men not in hospitals or convalescent homes, were paid over directly to the men. Such remittances shoulcl be sent .through the pay office of the Defence Department, that being the best and_ quickest way to reach tho men. With respect to men in hospitals or convalescent homos, however, any money sent to them was held by the High Commissioner till the men came out, and was then paid over, together with their accumulated pay. Demands had, be.en made by soldiers for money, but so for as lie could see no money was needed by men in hospitals or convalescent homes, though when they were out assistance might, he valuable. In his opinion an unmarried man with no dependents did not require very much money in England after he came out of hospital, because he had his accumulated pay, but in case of married men assistance would, no doubt, be welcome. The Hon G. W. Russell said lie thought, that what was meant was it patriotic societies in New Zealand thought it desirable, that money should he sent Home to increase the comforts cf men in hospitals and convalescent homes, would there be any objection to the men getting that money? The Hon J. Allen: “ There would be very grave objections as long as they were in hospitals or convalescent homes.” The position of funds at the disposal of the Defence Department was, lie said, that the Department had already sent to England some £7OOO subscribed by patriotic societies, and it had only a very small balance, in hand. The High Commissioner stated that some £3500 per month was required for the purposes of a Comforts Fund in England, aud £ISCO per month for Egypt. Malta., etc. The Minister of Defence therefore suggested that patriotic societies should supplement that fund to the extent of £3OOO a

month in order to provide extra comforts for the men. PRISONERS OF WAR. With regard to comfort for prisoners of war, Mr Allen stated that they had distributed a certain amount to prisoners in Turkey. So far as he knew, there were only twenty-two of them. They had sent help through the Red Cross and other societies, and also some small parcels. With regard to the exchange of prisoners of war, the only exchange, so far as he knew, would be of men incapacitated) for further service at the front, and those exchanges were not arranged by New Zealand but by the Imperial authorities.

In reply to a further question as to the position of men in hospitals and convalescent homes. Mr Allen said that he had inquired both in England and in Egypt whether anything more could be done for the sick and wounded, and the answer was that nothing more could be suggested that might be done. Mr Allen added that the High Commissioner had been instructed to. meet any claims from prisoners of war in Turkey that he deemed reasonable and proper, and suggested that it njight he well for patriotic societies to place funds at the High Commissioner’s disposal for that purpose. There was, said the Minister, very serious objection to money being sent except through Government channels. Only by sending money through Government channels could they check overlapping and similar evils.

ARTIFICIAL LIMBS. , The Hon J. Allen said that the Government had hoped that, the patriotic societies would undertake the obligation of supplying the wounded with artificial limbs, hut as a previous conference, had decided that it was for the Government to sec to that, the Government was undertaking the provision of artificial limbs of the host make for all soldiers who needed them, and no difference in that, regard would he made between officers and men.

Before adjournment three committees were appointed to deal respectively (1) with the definition of the respective responsibilities of the State and the patriotic societies; (21 with the question of federation, and (3) with general relief, investments and care of institutions. The committees are to report to the conference to-niorrow.