PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22269, 23 May 1934, Page 13

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT

The annual report of the executive of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association/ to be presented at tho annual meeting on May 30, states, inter alia: — The association has now completed its nineteenth year of existence, but its usefulness has not by any means become lessened. The work of dealing with applications from soldiers and dependents was carried out as usual by the committee, weekly meetings being held for the purpose throughout the year. Tho funds of the association are being used for the purpose for which they wore raised, due regard being given to the altered conditions under which many returned soldiers are struggling. No accurate estimate of the future needs of returned soldiers is possible, but experience is bearing out the prediction that, as time goes on, the number of applications received yearly will not tend to diminish. Due regard is always given to the future needs of men who at present are able to subsidise their pensions by their earnings. We regret to record the loss by death of Mr D. B. Theomin, who took an active interest in the association’s work and served as a member of the executive almost from the inception of the fund. The report of the Otago Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee states that- the applications considered during the year show an increase over the previous year, many of the applications being from men resident in Otago for many years who have not had occasion previously to seek help from patriotic funds. The increase in the number of applications is undoubtedly due to tho lack of remunerative employment with n consequent inability to carry on without periodical help. During the year the National War Funds Council contributed £1094 towards the relief of distress due to unemployment conditional on the committee taking responsibility for the assistance of all unemployed ox-soldiers resident in Otago irrespective of pre-war domicile. While this created an additional responsibility, the committee was relieved of the assistance, of Otago exsoldiers unemployed in other centres. Applications in respect of sick soldiers were dealt with as hitherto, all applications from Otago ex-soldiers _ residing elsewhere in New Zealand being considered and dealt with by the committee.

With increasing age many men are developing physical disabilities which arc difficult to ascribe to war service, but the Pensions Appeal Board has given sympathetic consideration during the year to many such cases.

The committee is indebted to tho trustees of the Grace Lilian Mitchell Fund for their sympathetic co-operation during the year. The committee has continued to assist towards the training of the sons of New Zealand soldiers at Flock House. During the year the sum of £ll3 Os 6d was expended for this purpose, the trainees in each instance being the sons of New Zealand ex-soldiers residing in Dunedin. A local committee, on which the. associition is represented, investigates all claims for admission and on expiry of the period of training endeavours to place the boys on farms in Otago. The committee joined with the trustees of the Grace Lilian Mitchell Fund and the Returned Soldiers' Association in arranging for the provision of food parcels at Christmas for ex-soldiers employed on the No. 5 scheme.