SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16824, 15 April 1918, Page 4

SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS

ASSISTANCE BOARD'S WORK. ■'■ v ' i ';'%?, CRITICISM IN PARLIAMENTPREMIER PROMISES JUSTICE. [BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL COREESPOSDEjfr'y'^i WELLINGTON, Sunday. | ' I The administration cf the Financial Ag?5S sistance Board in regard to grants to so'.'' diers' dependants was strongly criticised in HI the House of Representatives yesterday'-' '■-* during the discussion on the Finance Bill m Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh (WellingtonSouth), who opened the discussion, re-v'A ferred to the treatment of widowed mothers by the "soulless " Financial As-' sistance board. Where the motier hadiS more than one son at the front the board' H had refused assistance on the grounds tilt : the mother had her sons' allotments. Soma" r -> of the mothers regarded that money as "T» being held by them in trust for their sons,' '? and they were starving themselves rather' <, j than touch it. f :| Sir James Allen said that the regulations "I were liberal, but however wide they were : f they could not deal with a.l cases. If f specific cases of hardship were submitted % to him he would consider them. The Hon. G. W. Russell, in reply to 7 Mr. G. Anderson (Mataura), said that pro. vision had already been made for free hos-" \ pita! treatment for wives and children 'of soldiers on active service. '? Sir Joseph Ward said the matter of *V financial assistance could not be dealt with' '■" in this Bill, and he could only promise ! that he would bring the matter before the ; l notice of the Minister in charge of the' Department. >'* Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunuil referred to'' »*3 tho representations of the Second Division 4 League in regard to home service ' men, whereupon Sir James Allen * said that these men were not - facing the same dangers and diffi- * • culties as the men of the Expeditionary "'". Force. It was proposed to reorganise the- \ whole of the home service brrnch, and probably make it distinct from the Ex- \ peditionary Force. Other matters in the '»'S league's resolution were receiving, or had : '■, already received, attention. • \\ Mr. Forbes asked why the promise given ■'] to the league should not be kept, and an % opportunity afforded to reconsider the - scale of allowances before the Second Divi- _• 6ion men went into camp. Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) and Mr. 0." ' H. Poole (Auckland West) also pressed -* • this point. j '1 Sir Joseph Ward said that when ha 'r gave the promise referred to there was ; no idea that this short session would be held. His opinion was that the matter • wen now one for consideration by Cabinet. A Mr. A. Harris (W 7 aitemata) urged that ' more should be done for widowed mothers. Sir James Allen: That is being done '■ now, and some alteration will be made. Dr. H. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch % East) said if the Prime Minister would ' i give a day next week to discuss these mat-? ;■ ters the discussion would stop now. If '-h not there would be obstruction. Mr. Massey: I am not going to be;,;: dictated to in that way, nor be intimi-..' dated by threats of obstruction. Cabinet Chad just as much sympathy as a private ; member with the soldiers and their de- ■•% pendants. As to the promise of recon- « sideration of allowances by Parliament, '| .when that was made he had no' idea of | going Home this year, and had it not 1 been for the definite invitation, and the jg knowledge of the business to be done, ha 1 would not have gone. He had no objection to discussion of the allowances, but the matter was now one • for considera- >\ tion by Cabinet. If there was any cheese-■;'":•, paring by the Financial Assistance Board,:;' Cabinet would put that right before the f; Minister for Finance and he himself left ;.jJ New Zealand. <Wm Dr. Thacker: That is a fair promise. Mr. Massey said it,was not certain that $ Sir Joseph Ward and he would ■- go \to Great' Britain. The events of the neri'" few days would decide the matter. "' ' Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said that soldiers' dependants were kicked about., from pillar to post between M the boards and the patriotic societies. : (S The administration in these matters was:? unsatisfactory, and required overhauling.; The House then passed to ; othsr £? matters. :p