PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17943, 24 May 1920, Page 8

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

OOMMITTEK HEPORTS. Thp following arc ooiitfcns.it.ions of Uio reports Iβ bo submitted at tho quarterly mflotiiiff of tho Otiißo Patriotic Association :— Tho Finnnco Committee reports having eorbsidoirrd the application of tho St. John Ambulance AsHocdiition, referred to it at last Mooting of tho exeoutive. It was decided that tho hulaiico at credit of tJio association's Ambulance Fund bo paid to tho St. John Association. Tho Soldiers' and Dependents' Welfare Committee reports that tho expenditure for tho quarter ondod April 30 amounted in tho total to £4992 Four hundred and eighty-eight applications were received from returned Eoldiars, and to 160 of these applicants allowances for thft purchase of clothing totalling £1129 11s wero made. Grants amounting to £692 14s 7d wore paid to ]<■ applicants. Allowances aggregating £118 10s 6d were mado to 53 others. Loans totalling £3678 10s wero made on second mortgage to 50 applicants, 24 applications wwo ckxjlincd, consideration of 39 was defamed, 26 were referred to other societies, and in nine cases ammgementa wero made for the disburscanewt ol amounts received trom War expojiUL's. in anoltier case authority was given lor the purchase ot an invalid ohair,. and three otnei" appLioants wero provided with board and lodging. The udual supplies of comforts, cigaretttia, and tobacco liavo provided for tho inpatients at the Dunedin Hospital and Seaclilf Mental Hospitai, and the WaJtari, Karitane, and Pleasant Valley Sanatorium, in all tlie following quantities of cigarettes and tobacco were distributed, viz.:—<Ufi2+ packets of cigarettes, S2ilb of pipe tobacco, of cigarette tobacco and tissues, and 228 dozen boxes of matches. 'ihe total number of applications received from dependents was 44, and to 18 of these grants amounting to £122 8s 5d were made. Two were referred to other societies, three were discontinued, eight were deferred, three were continued at their present rates, to two a weekly allowance was granted, orw was declined, and in seven cases arrangements wero made for the disbursement of retrospective allowances received from war expenses. A meeting of the Advisory Board was held in Wellington on Thursday, March 4, and was attended by the secretary. The meeting was called for tho purpose of considering the question of assistance to totally and partly disabled soldiers, and also proposals for tho utilisation of the balance of patriotic funds. The following resolutions were carried at tho meeting, viz. ■—(I) *Fhat this meeting of the Advisory Board affirms tho principle that the time has arrived for the establishment of a national scheme to deal with partially or permanently disabled soldiers,- whether physically or mentally. (2) "That a conference of all boards at present administering or holding patriotic war funds, such as the Red Cross, the Y.M.0.A., the Salvation x\rmy, and other bodies, ba convened with a view to the participation of such bodies in the building up and tho administration of such national fund " A sub committee was appointed to formulate a scheme and to arrange details of the conference, which it was decided should bo held in May. All members of the Advisory Board are to be invited to attend tho conference. The following resolution was also passed unanimously:- " Whether or not tho .establishment of a National Fund be agreed to, the WeUingthe War Belief Association strongly _ tho absorption by central or provincial associations of small district funds, many of which aro not at present in active operation." ~ ~ A number of other questions -were discussed at the, conference, and it was suggested that each society should eet aside at least two-thirds of its fund for permanenly or partially disabled men. It .was also decidod:-' i That tho assistance given to a soldier or his depondents should' not be basett solely on the ground of physical impairment, but an attempt should be made to enable tho disabled soldier to maintain himself and his dependents, in a reaaoable state of comfort having regard to the loss he may be suffering as tho result of his war service." Tho committee, while reporting tho foregoing desires to ■reaffirm its previous decision that it is thought inadvisable to determine a policy for the utilisation of tho balance of patriotnc funds that will preclude the granting of relief as at present. Consideration lias, however, been given to the question of further assistance to totally and partially disabled men, 'end the whole matter is to be further considered when information necessary is to hand. In view of the puspenfiion of activities by the Land Board in tho granting of lcrnis to soldiers and having in miind the limited amount of funds at the disposn.l of the committee, the policy in regard to loans has beon amended. The committee has atrrred to accopt cases whore properties have been purchased by assistanoa of loans from private individuals, i.e., other than thf> Lands Board. Advances in future will only be rrrawted from repayments of loans already advanced, and interest will be ch,ar£red on such loans already at the rnte of 6 pw cent, ■ner'anmtm. a rpbnte of 5 per cent, interest to be made with the final Tepaymont, prov : ded the repayments 'have all beoT) rwmlarly paid. The amount of the com-mitteo's advance will m no case exceed £50. . ' Arrangements hive been mado to tako over the rreoonsibfliliM of tho Otasro and Southland Wornfti's Patriotic Assertion in view of the winding up of that body. npA n, ladies' committee, consisting of M«: ck-mrs Theomin and Johnstone and the. Misses fftewart and Burt, has brpn appointed to control tr« work and distribution of hosp'til coniforts under the direction of this commrttee.