SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS’ FUND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 28 April 1925, Page 7

SICK AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS’ FUND

ANNUAL MEETING

Tin* annual meeting ri tlie* Nelson Sick and Wounded ami Their Depon dents' Fund Society was held last evening. lion. W • W • Snodgrass. M. I.president. was in the chair. ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report, stated : "During this year your Advisory Hoard lias met each month, and the meetings have hoen excepttonally well attended, particularly as our country district rep resent at i ves have to make rousiderahle sai l ilices in time and expense u« at tend. The. 111-auks of the Society are due to the country representatives tor the unremitting interest- in the welfare of the returned soldiers and their ihpendents, and lor their whole hearted support in connection with the admin istiat ion and dist rilmt ion of th«- fund, (t Iras hern staled that the funds of the soeietv do not show a very appreeiaid.- decrea-'e considering the time the soeietv has heen in operation, hut rather than this .statement should he , riisidered a charge of parsimony on the part of your Board, it should he matter for congratulation. Applications for assistance eonlintic to he received from men discharged tit at the termination ol hostilities who are now developing disabilities as a result of their war experience, the chief of which is tuberculosis. It is a very difficult unit ter to prove after a lapse ol several years that these eases were contracted during their period of war service, and i t i s in this connection that the need for the careful conservation of the moneys at the Society's disposal is most earnestly desired. Cases of the nature omnnerated above are represented to the Pensions Department, and our experience has been that after cave till and sympathetic consideration of the particulars submitted, the applicant, is given the benefit r.f any doubt t-hat might 'appear, The new Pension.!? Act, which has now been in operation for some time, has proved most beneficial to returned soldiers. It has been during the interval between the time when the men report sick and desiring treat incut- and the date when their claim is upheld with the consequent increased pension that your fund has heen called upon to help their families. "Repayment of Loans by Soldiers.— During the year your Advisory Board has declined all applications for loans, as the experience of the past, has not. proved at- all -satisfactory. This state of affairs is not peculiar to our own district bid is the oninion of all the Patriotic Societies in New Zealand, and despite the facilities your Board has offered for repayment of loans. the response of borrowers has been disap-

pointing. "Ex-Imperial Soldiers and Sailors.Large numbers of ex-Imperial soldiers have been arriving in New Zealand, and a great nmnv of these men are suffering from disabilities contracted on active service. Their cases have heen taken over by the War Funds Office, and arrangements with local patriotic societies have been made whereby limited assistance of a temporary nature can lie given pending consideration of the particular circumstances by the War Funds Council. Our funds is reimbursed later bv the Council. Tim men of the Navy and the [Mercantile Marine Service are the responsibility of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgment of Debt to the British Seamen Fund and the eases submitted to this organisation by ' your Advisory Board have been granted generous assistance.

"Soldiers iu Hospital.—The TTon. W . W. Snodgrass, M.L.C., mid Mr N. A. Vercop. secretary of the local Returned Soldiers’ Association, continue to make regular visits to the Hospital, so- as to keep touch with the returned men receiving treatment, .and to ascertain in what direction their particular services can be helpful. Mrs Watson and the Matron of the Hospital continue to provide extras and to see to the comfort of the soldiers in Hospital. The thanks

, f tlic* Society arc dm* to tlu*s<‘ unselfish and generons-hearted helpers for their kindly interest in the welfare of our returned men. Dr T. (!. Gray, late Superintendent of the 'Mental Hospital, is also accorded the thanks of the Society for the interest lie has manifested in the returned soldier patients under his care. The society extends to* him its congratulations on his advancement to Superintendent of the .Auckland Mental Hospital. “Soldiers’ Club House.—After seven years the Returned Soldiers' Association decided to terminate their lease of tin* Club House premises, and your Advisory Hoard, after discussing the matter, resolved that the premises be offered for sale by tender. The salt* ol the land buildings, and furniture was advertised in the Wellington, as well as the local papers, and the tender submitted by the Nelson City Club (Ineorp.) wa ft accepted. The club thus succeeds iR eacquiring its original premises. In uispr.sing r.f the Club House property your Hoard is confident that- no loss on the cost price will be made. There is still a. part of the furniture unsold, and until this is disposed of it will not he possible to ascertain the exact, position. “National Wav Funds Council. —The Tlon. \V. W. Snodgrass is still the society's representative on the Council, and the work done by this important body is assisting in no small measure to maintain co-ordination among the War Relief .Associations of New Zealand.

“Kindred Societies.—-Your society desires to place on record its sincere thanks and appreciation for the assistance given, by the. other Patriotic Societies in New Zealand where men who are our responsibility have found it necessary to apply for help. The sotietv desires to thank the Nelson branch of the Royal Red Cross Society for sympathy and co-operation in alleviating local eases and assisting _to provide treatment and medical attention at sanatoria. It also wishes to thank the Commissioner "of Pensions for his prompt and courteous attention to all matters pertaining to men of this district.” In moving.the adoption of the report, and balance-sheet the cnairman referred with satisfaction to (he fact that all the members of the Town Committee were returned soldiers, and were carrying Oil), their duties in a mo.s|, satisfactory way. Jh* himself was quite willing to make way for a returned soldier, who he eonsklerwera the best lilted to administer the fund.

Mr Vereoe seconded the motion

In supporting, Mr W. C. Marly expressed satisfaction at the policy adopted were the best fitted to administer the tin- funds for future use instead ot spending them as quickly fl*' possible. The motion was then, formally adopt oil.

'ELECTION OF OFFICERS Hon. W. W. Snodgrass, M.L.C., was Hit* only nomination received for the position of president, iW(i >Y,us declared re-elected amid applause. For the town members of the Advisory Hoard Dr Hett and Messrs N. A. \ er roe and A. H. Kidson were re-elected. Ail the country members of the Advisory Committ f m have not yet been elect ed. The meeting then terminated .