OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21019, 7 May 1930, Page 7

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT The following is the annual report of the executive of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, which will be presented at the - annual meeting next Wednesday :■ — Periodical meetings of the executive were held to receive reports from subcommittees and to deal with such other matters as arose during the year. It is with regret that was recorded the loss hy death of a valuable member. Sir George Fenwick, who had acted continuously as a member from the date of inception of the association. The Otago Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee dealt with all matters per- ■. taining to the welfare of returned'soldiers and their dependents. This committee carries out the work for which .the association was specially set up. It is now 15 years since the association was formed. During the period immediately following the termination of the war, when men were returning' to New Zealand in ever-increasing numbers, o very heavy call was made on the resources of the association. As these men gradually became absorbed into employment, calls were reduced until what has now come to be regarded as the normal work of.the association, that is, the care, of the sick and wounded, supervened. This Work shows no sign. of falling off as time goes on. While hav-' ing due ■ regard for the men who are suffering permanent war injuries, ho application is refused solely on the grounds that a discharged soldier is not able to prove that his disability is due to war service. The Finance Committee’s report states that, as the yearly expenditure for some years past has shown little variation, there has been no difficulty in providing for the funds necessary to meet current requirements. ■ The balance .of the fund now stands at £45,390 9s lid. The whole of this money is invested in City Corporation debentures, which arc readily saleable as the necessity arises. From the date of the inception ■of the association up to March 31 last the total receipts, including interest, amount to £345,675’ IBs 3d. The payments total £300,185 Gs 4d, leaving the net balance £45,390 9s lid, as shown on the treasurer’s balance sheet. While it is obvious that depletion will become very rapid as the capital shrinks (due to the diminishing annual v receipts of interest thereon), it is not possible to estimate with an degree of accuracy the life of the fund. Calls mayj and probably will, become heavier as increasing age tends to disclose weakness due to war strain which cannot be proved to be pensionable disabilities and will result in such becoming partial charges on. the fund from time to time. ‘ The Otago Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee’s report states that from .the inception of the fund to date,19,750 applications from returned soldiers and the dependents of deceased soldiers have been investigated, the sum of .£130,546 11s 4d being granted by way of relief. The applications dealt with during the year show no falling off as compared with previous years, - and cases continually arise of men requiring assistance for the first time since their discharge. As men become older, unsuspected physical troubles develop, probably due to v war service, but difficult to -prove as such. The sympathetic consideration of claims by the Appeal Board ■has, resulted this year in many pensions being granted or increased. A general review of all matters pertaining to the welfare of returned soldiers was undertaken this year' by a commission set up by the Government. A feeling existed amongst returned soldiers that increased facilities for the suitable' employment of partially disabled men would be-preferable to increased economic pensions ' - '- ■