SOLDIERS AND DEPENDENTS' WELFARE COMMITTEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 50

SOLDIERS AND DEPENDENTS' WELFARE COMMITTEE.

The monthly meeting of the above committee was held on Thursday evening; present —Messrs Charles Speight (in the chair), E. C. Hazlctt, Jas. ISegg. J. D. Saimond, James Horn, I.'. M'Skimming, jun., and S. Solomon, K.C. The Advisory Board wrote stating that the Minister of Defence had stated that the present regulations under which payment of widowed mothers' separation allowances might be made would be proportionately relaxed as regards the qualification of a minimum allotment of 3s a day of deferred pay, in particular cases where a soldier established that he was unable to allot- the full amount of his deferred pay. Each case would be dealt with on its merits, and the allowance would be granted, provided the mother's income from other sources did not exceed 7s a week. The Minister contended that to give effect to the request that tho full old-age pension of 10s per week would not debar applicants from receiving the separation allowance would be going too far. Tho Hon. A. L. Hcrdman wrote stating that it was thought that difficulties in the way of providing adequate means of livelihood during the period of tuition might have deterred many returned disabled men from endeavouring to learn new branches of industry, and to meet this trouble the Government had decided to grant special allowances with a view effectually to doing away with any deterrent of this character. The maximum allowance would be £1 per week, additional to any pension. The granting of an allowance would be subject to tho branch of training selected being approved by the department as prima facie suited to the man's capacity and physical condition, and its continuance would depend upon the recipient's good conduct, regular attendance, and satisfactory progress.—Noted. The Relief Committee reported that since last report some 39 new applications for assistance had been considered, and scale allowances were granted to 21 of these cases—seven were granted allowances making an aggregate weekly payment of £3 7s. Grants totalling £l9 12s lOd were made to eight of the applicants, one was declined, and the remaining two cases were deferred pending further inquiry. Eighty-five cases were reviewed, to 61 of whom allowances making a total weekly payment of £27 18s 9il were made, two of whom received grants totalling £7. seven were made grants amounting to £2O 15s, eight were deferred for further inquiry, and allowances to the remaining nine cases were discontinued. Applications were received from 28 returned soldiers, and eight were granted sums totalling £3l 10s, 12 were granted weekly allowances amounting to £l4 Is for various short periods, and the remaining eight applications were deferred pending further inquiries. An application from Mr W. J. Rogers for assistance to take up land at Clifton' Estate was referred to the monthly meeting. The secretary was instructed to write to the Minister of Defence regarding the delay, in remitting separation and children's allowances. It was decided to recommend to tho Finance Committee that £lO9 each be contributed to tho Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army—such grants to continue per month for three months, when the question shall be reconsidered, —these sums to be devoted,, exclusively to New Zealand soldiers overseas, and that each institution be asked to supply regularly an outline of the work done. The Finance Committee recommended accordingly, and the executive adopted the recommendation. It was resolved that the executive be recommended to urge the Government to make more adequate provision in the way of pensions to dependents, so that the necessity of patriotic societies supplementing Government pensions might be obviated. The attention of the association has also been directed to the practice of men insuring for small amounts at a high war premium.—Report adopted. The Finance Committee submitted the following statement of expenditure up to

The secretary submitted a report of a meeting with Mr Douglas Seymour (general secretary, Now Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association), held on April 5. Mr Seymour stated that his association wished to see adequate measures taken to cope with the difficulties which might present themselves when the bulk of the men returned. The association urged that the necessary machinery for handling these men should be ready upon their return. The work was not so 'much for the present, but for the future. In the meanwhile they were chiefly desirous of seeing a uniform system adopted for the relief to soldiers, to be administered on a scale assuring for tho returned soldier a "fair deal." It was also urged that the present scheme for land settlement was not at all satisfactory. The chairman assured Mr Seymour that the committee was at all times "most willing to co-operate with the returned soldiers in any movement for their betterment. Mr Seymour agreed to submit, in writing various matters for the committee's consideration. Mr Titchener reported that during the month 16 returned men had been listed to tho bureau; 14 men had been placed in employment. Acting on the department's advice, two men's names were struck off tho "Employment Wanted" register, and five were unemployed. Of these, one man failed to report, another was desirous of taking advantage of tho Government subsidy and free technical education, whilst every endeavour was being made to place the remaining three in suitable employment. The Second Division League wrote offering co-operation in patriotic work.—Tho secretary to reply that the committee would be glad to make use of tho co-operation of the league when necessary. Several applications from returned soldiers wcro dealt with.

Thursday, April 5 : - — Payments Total for month. expenditure. Relief to dependents ...; £1,244 4 0 £15,941 14 11 Allowances and advances to soldiers ... 152 16 11 1,986 7 8 Comforts to soldiers in hospital in N.Z. ... 104 2 3 1,223 1 3 Comforts to N\Z. soldiers overseas — 2,249 0 0 Waikouaiti Home — 255 17 5 Awapuni Camp — 6 0 0 Recruiting Committee — 173 2 6 Administration expenses 59 16 0 959 7 0 Balance — 496 9 6 £1,560 19 2 £23,290 0 0