OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 4

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATES

ANNUAL REPORTS. The following are summaries of the seventh annual report of the executive and of the reports of the various sectional committees of tho Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association : EXECUTIVE’S REPORT. The executive reports; It is with regret that the executive records the death of one of its members (llio Rev. Father Coffey), who had served as a member, of the executive since the inception of the association on August 14, 1914. In accordance with the policy of the. National War Funds Council, to have the balance of the funds remaining in the hands of the trustees of tho various small Patriotic Associations transferred to the appropriate incorporated body, tlie executive accepted the balance of the funds of tho Kelso and Glonkcnich Patriotic Society, Cromwell Patriotic Society, and Wanaka Soldiers’ Help Society. The funds of all the small societies have now been paid into this association, leaving only two patriotic societies operating in Otago. The period for which the interest on Mr P. RSargood’s trust was payable to tho Y.M.C.A. having expired and as tho income for the balance of the period—■viz., 20 years—is now payable to this association, the executive, after very careful consideration. agreed to divide the interest between the, Y.M.C.A. and the Returned Soldiers’ Association up to August, 1923. after which date the matter will again he considered. The detail work of the association was ‘carried out by the Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Welfare Committee and tho Finance Committee, all matters concerning.the welfare of returned soldiers or their .dependents being attended to by the Otago Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Welfare Committee, while the Finance Committee attended to such mailers as concerned (he association's finances. FINANCE COMMITTEE The Finance Committee reports;—lt. is pleasing to report that the committee was able to avoid selling any of its bonds during the late financial stress, when the high rate of interest charged by the banks made it expedient to avoid incurring overdrafts. The market value of securities at that, time was very low. and a. heavy loss would have resulted had it become necessary to dispose of a bond. There is now a prospect of being able to dispose of one £SOOO bond at par, and arrangements are in hand to have the surplus monev suitably invested until such time a« it is required. Tho association's bonds (£50,000). therefore still remain intact, and the association has been financed by means of a £IOOO loan at 6 per cent., together with a hank overdraft. OTAGO SOLDIERS’ AND DEPENDENT’S’ WELFARE COMMITTEE. The Otago Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Welfare Committee reports:—lt is now nearly eight years since the committee was first inaugurated, and during that lime it has dealt with no fewer than 15,898 applications, these being claims from over 12.000 soldiers and their dependents. The following is a summary of the applications dealt with:—July, 1916. to Mutch. 1917, 997 cases; Aprilj 1917, to March, 1918, 1957 oases; April, 1918, to March, 1919, 2442 cases; April, 1919, to March, 1920, 5015 cases; April, 1920, to March. 1921, 1789 cases: April, 1921, to March, 1922. 875 cases; and from April. 1922. to March, 1923, 845 oases. The amount disbursed .in grants and allowances in these oases amounted to £104,760 17s Hd; while £7053 were expended in providing for soldiers who were in hospital suffering as a result of their war service. In addition' to this, £13,917 6s Id was advanced in loans to soldiers or dependents. The hulk of tho cases considered during the present year consists of applications from men who, either directly or indirectly, are suffering as a result of their war service. Tho oases range from those of men who are suffering a, complete economic loss and are experiencing delay in having their disabilities recognised by the Defence Department as being due to war service, with a consequent delay in - the granting of a pension; to cases of men whose war disabilities, although slight, debar them in the meantime from following their usual occupations. There is no doubt that a considerable degree of hardship would he suffered by these men and their dependents ■were there no fund out‘of which they could bo assisted in their time of need. The number of cases dealt with during the year is slightly less Than' that of the previous year, and it is now possible to estimate with some accuracy the number and class of cases which the committee will bo called upon to deal with during the coining years. Tho wisdom of having conserved tho funds ■ as far as practicable for tho use of unfit men is apparent, in view of the very large percentage of returned" soldiers who are periodically breaking down in health, and whoso claims for assistance from your funds cannot ho ignored, despite the fact that medical evidence is not available to prove beyond doubt that their disabilities actually originated during their period ot service. The difficulty experienced by men who arc now breaking down in health in attributing their disabilities to war service engaged the. attention of the committee during the year, and tho opportunity was taken for the secretary to attend the sitting of the Commission on War Pensions, held in Wellington in October last, to give evidence regarding the practical working of the Pensions Act so far as it affected the soldiers in Otago. The point was stressed that where it is reasonable to presume, that the disability a soldier is suffering had its origin during the period of service, or was aggravated thereby, any evidence at the disposal of the- soldier should be submitted together with his medical history sheet or other evidence til. the disposal of the Pensions Department, to an arbitrator, such as a. magistrate, who, after weighing the evidence, would give a decision winch should be final. The finding of the commission is not yet available, but it is understood that it is favourable to the returned soldiers.

During the year the. supply of comforts to soldiers in hospital, which had hitherto been attended to weekly, was discontinued. That branch of patriotic effort has now been wholly taken over by the Red Cross Society, which previously undertook a considerable portion of the work in connection with the hospitals and convalescent homes. Up to date of discontinuiue- the weekly supply, tho following quantities were issued, and a small balance of stock remaining at hospital was 1 vended over lo the Red Cross Society-1800 packets of cigarettes, 301 b cigarette tobacco and tissues, 19Jlb pipe tobacco, six dozen packets of matches. The committee was represented at a meeting of the Advisory Board held in Wellington iu January last, bv the chairman (Mr J. J. Clarke). Tho question of disbanding the board was considered, but in view of the necessity that may arise, it was resolved that the board should not be disbanded, but that meetings bo convened only if such should ho considered necessary.

During the year the committee considered 823 applications from returned soldiers and 22 applications from dependents. Of this number, one application from a dependent and 109 applications from soldiers were de dined, it being evident after careful investigation that the assistance asked for could not bo granted from patriotic funds. Fiftyfive applications were investigated on beliad of other societies, and particulars forwarded to the responsible societies for their decision ; while three applications were referred to the Repatriation Department, two to Iho Red Cross Society, five to the New Zealand Shoepowners’ Fund, two to the National War Funds Council, and two to the Lands Board Eighteen new loans wore authorised, involving a sum of £999 3s 4d. in each case security being taken for the amount advanced. Conditions were varied regarding repayment of 42 loans previously granted, and the discharge of 25 mortgages was executed, tho amount of the in each case having been repaid in full. Consideration was deferred for varying periods in 83 cases, pending receipt of fuller particulars. These cases were all eventually satisfactorily dealt with. In two cases current allowances were discontinued on receipt of information from ihe Pensions Department that Iho soldiers had been accepted as a charge, on the Defence Department, and that the first instalment of the pension had become payable. In seven eases now arrangements were made regarding the disbursement of retrospective allowances. In each case this appeared equitable to the committee, and was in accordance with the beneficiaries’ requests. Twenty-four applications were '■eforred to the committee’s honorarv lady visitor (Mrs Park), and these were all 'satisfactorily disposed of; while four applications. not involving monetary assistance, wore dealt \vilh by the secretary. Ail' dependents’ cases wore reviewed during the year, reports on the circumstances of each being furnished by the committee’s honorarv lady visitors (Mrs Park and Misa J Hunciman). , Four dependents’ allowances were discontinued owing to improvements in their circumstances. ’1 hose improvements were duo to their having made every iltc of the committee's assistance and placed their children in positions where it was now possible for them to assist their mothers. Periodical grants when the ncees sitv arises has taken tho place of continuous allowances in these and many other dependents’ cases. One allowance was increased to enable the dependent, who is in poolhealth and advanced in years. In enjoy a little more comfort. Ten grants totalling £45 8s 6d were made, and one application was declined. In four cases it was decided that lio assistance was necessary in the meantime, tho applications to be reconsidered at a later date if the necessity

assistance should aviso. Four cases were referred to Mrs Park, and dealt with according to the requirements of. the applicants. The committee desires to express its appreciation of th,; services of its honorary lady visitors (Mrs Park and Miss J. Runci•maii). It, is a matter of satisfaction to record the courtesy and assistance which lias been extended to your committee by othei patriotic societies, by tbo Pensions Department, Lands Board, National War Funds Council, and the Returned Soldiers' Association. The committee has been appointed representative- in JJunedin for the National Funds Council and the New Zealand Sliecpowners' . Fund, being- empowered to deal with-men who served in Imperial or other forces, and with men who had deep sea service in the Mercantile Marine during the war. This enables applications from all men who served ashore or afloat with any unit of the British Army and • Navy or Mercantile Marine to be dealt with by the committee.