SOLDIERS' NEXT-OF-KIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24102, 22 October 1941, Page 8

SOLDIERS' NEXT-OF-KIN

ASSOCIATION FORMED (0.c.) WHANG ARE!, Tuesday A well-attended meeting in Whangarei last night of parents and relatives of men overseas decided to form a next-of-kin association. The convenor of the meeting, Mr. G. A. R. Mc.K oy, said that although the Returned Soldiers' Association was of great assistance to next-of-kin of men overseas it was felt that there was need for a separate organisation, lie instanced positions that needed redress, such as the reduction in the allowances made to the wife and children of a soldier when the soldier was reported missing or a prisoner of war. After three months this allqwance was reduced to the amount payable under the Social Security Act. Another point was the need for the Government to provide adequate clothing for prisoners of war. The meeting adopted two resolutions to ho forwarded to the Government, one that the minimum pension payable to dependants of soldiers reported missing be £2 12s 6d, and also that prisoners of war be supplied with necessary clothing and other requirements. Officers elected were-.—President, Mr. L. Cooke; vice-presidents, Mrs. H. Crawford, Mr?. M. Baker, Mrs. Brainsby, Messrs. W. Porter, G. H. Morrish. A. Hooker; secretary, Mr. H. R. Collier; treasurer, Mr. F. Eades; executive. Mr?. McKeon, Mrs. Craven, Mrs. Kaeri, Miss X. Rowsell, Messrs. D. McLeod, W. R. McKenzie, Ross, C. Cuff.