AID FOR THE WOUNDED

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5360, 18 February 1916, Page 4

AID FOR THE WOUNDED

CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON

LARGE SUMS NECESSARY

Electric Telegraph— t.—. ciatiou. Wellington, This Day. A conference of representatives of patriotic societies in New Zealand was commenced yesterday. The Hon. Mr Russell, who presided, stated that a large number of men had returned to New Zealand and their claims for consideration at the hands of both the*,Government and patriotic, 'Ocd&tiee had become so insistent that it wag absolutely necessary there should be a clear definition of the respective spheres in which each would operate. The number of soldiers sent away up to January 17th, was 31,788. of whom 3,012 had returned. Of these 460 had notified that they needed no nrflier assistance from the State. A--suming that our total forces finally reached 64.383, on the present experience the |nusion demands would amount to £198.156 per annum. To supplement this sum by fifty per cent, from the patriotic societal would require an annual pavement of £99.078. made up as follows: Auckland military district £26.850. Weilington district £*33.094. Canterbury £22.884. Otago £16.250. Tins sum might seem a large one. but is a country so richly endowed there should be no difficulty in die State paying its share and the patriotic societies which would represent the supplementations of fifty per cent, of the pensions and allowances granted by the State. At the Patriotic Societies - Conference to-day. a report of the committee set up. to consider the question of the federation of the New Zealand war relief societies was presented. Tlie objects of the federation are to establish a common ba-ds ot responsibility in respect of each society as applied to those entitled to relief ; to adopt means of preventing exploitation of the funds; to take into consideration all matters affecting the administration of (funds raised for the benefit of soldiers and dependents; the federation to be managed by an advisory board. The report was adopted.