RETURNED SOLDIERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 55

RETURNED SOLDIERS

ANNUAL DOMINION CONFERENCE The annual Dominion Conference of tlie New Zealand Returned .Seiche: s' Association was opened in tire Oliver Hall at the University on the Bth, Dr L. Boxer, C.M.G., presiding. There were also present Messrs D. S. Smith (vWllington), L. G. Blackweit (Canterbury), and Dr J. Harrison, vicepresidents ot the association. Tite following is a list cf the delegates present, who were empowered to vote, and representing a total of 93 votes: —Auckland—Messrs T. Long, R. Mason, A. Sexlon, j Meliing, E. F. Andrews. J. B. Mbyte, 11. Macpherson; Gisborne, Mr L>. S. Smith; Wellington—Sir Andrew Russell, Messrs B. J. Jacobs, H. Bnrdekin, J. Hebenton, R, J. Aldrich, C. W. Batten, K. B. Bell, X. il. Johnson, 33'. Perry, D. Seymour; Nelson and Marlborough. "Messrs 33. C. liarley and A. Duncan: Canterbury— Revs. 3V. Walker and 13. Scott, Messrs G. 33’. Lloyd, 33'. E. Leadley, L>. O’Connor, L. M. Inglis, A. H. Sprat t ; Otago—Messrs J. D. Forbes, T. 33’. McDonald, D. Co’qufcoun, J. 33'. Smcaion. A. S. Glass, L. S. Graham; Fielding, Mr J. J. Fox. 3VELCOMK TO DELEGATES. Tlie Mayor, who was received with applause, w< loomed tho delegates, and a special welcome to Sir Andrew Russell. Dr Boxer replied to the Mayor’s remarks. FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. The report may be summarised as follows; During the year six new associations h : 1 been formed and affiliated, and several others were in the process ot formation. Only one association, Lower Waikato, had been forced to wind tin, and all its | members had been transferred to the Auckland Association. From a perusal of the annual return of financial members, continues the report, it must be confessed that the membership is much lower than it should be. Now, more than ever, should all N. men become and remain members of this association, as there will be a lot of hard lighting before all cur disabled comrades and their dependents receive thendues. The district scheme lias had a years trial, and on the whole it has been lairly successful. The main progress made during tlie past, year lias been the overhauling of the numerous anomalies which were soon found out when pavmcnt of gratuities commenced. The N.Z.R.S. A. were scon alive to the fact that anomalies existed, and owing to its energies a Special Committee was set up to inquire into the cases unprovided for by law. In the case of deceased soldiers all such cases arc now decided on tlieir merits by the War Pensions Board, who must be fully satisfied that the claimant (1) was dependent on the deceased ; or (2) would have boon had he returned to New Zealatul or (3) assisted in the upbringing of the soldier if it's parents died when he was young. The period of absence from Ne-.v Zealand for the purpose of further treatment will count as qualifying service for a gvatu’ty. The Minister of Defence also agreed that the minimum of 18 months’ gratuity be paid for the first period of service; and that Ihe actual number of days overseas count for gratuity when the soldier proceeded again on active service. V.A.D. cases have been submitted bv the Minister of Defence to the present High Commissioner, London, for adjudication. In the case of sold ers whose hospital tvralment has been interrupted. Cabinet, agreed that each such case shoti’d be considered on its merits for the minimum of two years gratuity. It lias been estimated that if all anomalies under the above headings were paid, the sum of £90,000 would be expended. On the subject of immigration the policy of the N.Z.R.S.A. regarding ex-Impeiral solders is clear and defined. The N.Z.R.S.A. maintains (I) that all N.Z.K.F. men must be repatriated and satisfied first : 12) that ail South African Contingenters shjjll be repatriated next: and (3) that benefits of reparation and D.S.S. Act be then extended to ex-imperial men. It was further decided to reaffirm the principle of a ”33 Lite New Zealand.” _ The executive congratulates tlie Repatriation Department on the. successful results achieved, and describes the work of the department under tho headings cf employment. unemployment, sustenance, training, financial assistance, repayment bv soldiers, and after-care. Up to March 31 training had been arranged for 6938 men, and of these 4081 had finished their course. One thousands two hundred and seventy-four siudenls attending universities or commercial colleges have been assisted with grants towards fees and test-books. Tho total amount spent on tlie training of ex-soldiers was £275.340 up to March 31. Up to (lie present 1114 chest cases. 373 amputees, and 667 suffering from other serious disabilities have been dealt with by ihe aftercare officers. New Zealand has 21 soldiers who lost their sight, and in most cases arrangements have been made with the Jubilee Institute, Auckland, for their training which was commenced at St. Dunstans' in England. The report records with great pleasure that considerable improvement lias beep affected by ihe. Now Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association on behalf of T.B. men. Tlie amount of moneys held by the 33'ar Fiinds Council on March 31, 1920. approximately £1.327.000. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association policy as regards the distribution of those funds is that the time luis now arrived when ihe various patriotic societies who have not already done so should earmark a portion of their funds for permanently-totallv and permanent!;, partially disabled soldiers, and for the men who are breaking down from time in time as a result of their military service. The Now Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association also strongly deprecates the paying of cash grants to disabled soldiers. The general policy of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association on the question of unemployment is: (a) Partiallytrained fit tradesmen to be fully trained, and file remainder sent to Government relief works; (l>) partialiy-irained unfit tradesmen to be fully trained, and the remainder found suitable jobs in the Government: service by replacing gitls, super-annuated officers, and non-combatants. The salient points in a comparison of this year’s financial statement with that of last year are(a) A decrease in expenditure of £2742 11s 6-1 ; (b) a decrease in income of £530 6s; (e) an increase in net assets of £1025 2s 7d; (tl) an excess of assets over liabilities at March 31, 1921, of £IBBS 6s sd.