PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16560, 8 June 1917, Page 4

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

ADVISORY BOARD MEETING.

PAY AND ALLOWANCES.

[bt telegraph.—press asssocution.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Advisory Board of the Federation oi the New Zealand Patriotic War Societies is Bitting here. Consideration was given to-day to the reply by the Minister for Defence regarding allowances to widowed mothers, the Minister having declined to accede to a request that a full old age pension should not be a bar to receipt of ; the allowance. The Wellington, South Canterbury, and Otago Societies considered the allowance to widowed mothers should be increased from 7s to 10s a week. The question was left in the hands of the president and vice-president to discuss with the Minister for Defence. The Minister wroto regarding the board's request that the postage rates on parcels forwarded to soldiers should be reduced. The rates, he said, had already been heavily reduced, and no further reduction could be made. Regarding a complaint that Gisborne was not represented on the board, Mr. Lamer (Auckland) said Auckland was willing to have only one delegate in order that Gisborne might be represented. The matter ■was left in the hands of the chairman to arrange. The question of the Government's responsibility for men passed as fit for service and subsequently discharged from camp was discussed, and a resolution was adopted expressing the opinion that reser- , visits who have volunteered or been called I up and, having passed the first medical I examination, have subsequently broken I down in their trainin" or have been rei jected at subsequent medical examinations ! ought, where their bona fides are unI doubted, to be provided for by the GovernI merit on some fair basis of compensation I until their health has been restored and regular employment secured by them. The question of soldiers' pay and allow. ance s was considered, the opinion being expressed that the whole scheme of pay demanded attention. Rates should be more generous ; as the general increase in the cost of living had made them obviously inadequate. Experience had shown i that the men could not allocate 4s a day i from their pay to their dependants, as i thev needed more than Is a day in Engl land and France. It was suggested that the allowance for children should be increased from 9d to Is a day. After a dis- ' cuission the matter was allowed to stand j over/