WAR DISABILITIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21757, 23 March 1934, Page 11

WAR DISABILITIES

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION RECURRENCE OF AILMENTS WORK IN PAST QUARTER "The chief feature to come under notice during the past quarter has been the continued number of applications from men suffering recurrence of war disability," stated a report from the Claims Board of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, presented at a meeting of the executive of the organisation yesterday. The president, Sir James Gunson, presided. The report said the board had considered 1251 applications during the quarter under review, 749 being granted, 103 deferred and 399 declined. The amounts granted to successful applicants were £1523 in cash assistance and £1099 by provision of work. Economic necessity and the renewal of incapacity due either to injury or sickness resulting from war service had made it essential for men to apply again after a number of years had passed. Such cases were always viewed sympathetically, it being the first principle of the association, laid down in 1915, that .the main determining factor as to whether assistance should be ■given was on the answer to the question whether necessity was due directly to war injury or war sickness.Diminishing Funds The economic circumstances of an applicant were also taken into account, and, should a man be able to help himself'financially, it was regarded as good grounds for Reclining assistance. Experience was proving, with the diminishing funds of the association, that it would take the organisation all its time to care for injured or sick men' whose condition was due to war causes,'and who were in necessitous circumstances. The Veterans' Home Committee reported that the capital fund of the institution stood at £48,500, and the year's income would more than provide sufficient for the maintenance cf the home, leaving a credit balance which would be shown in the accounts for the year ending March 31. The report of the Finance Committee showed that the total funds of the association at November 30 amounted to £66,073. Since then, £ll9B had been received from interest on investments, and £1287 in refunds from Southern patriotic societies. The expenditure since November 30 had been £4344, leaving a balance in hand of £64,215. Committee Disbanded. Reference to the Permanently Disabled Soldiers' Committee, which was disbanded on September 17, 1931, was made by the chairman, who said it was clear from decisions at the time that the recommendation was to end the permanently disabled scheme, and that any further applications were to be consid« ered by the Claims Board, which was to take over the care of men as applicants for relief, the same as any other men qualified for assistance by reason of war injury or sickness. A question had arisen owing to two votes made by the board in the past quarter, and quite properly made. All applications from men eligible for assistance could now be regarded as coming within the ordinary work of the board, and the ordinary forms of assistance should, with diminishing funds, be sufficient.

On the motion of the chairman, the meeting reaffirmed the decision made with a view to ending the Permanently Disabled Soldiers' Committee, and stating that further votes under that committee were discontinued.