THE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT

Southland Times, Issue 17664, 23 February 1916, Page 3

THE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT

THE RECENT CONFERENCES. REPORT OF SOUTHLAND DELEGATES. At last night's meeting of the Southland Patriotic Committee the delegates (Messrs A. W. Rodger and (.’has. i’ampbell) to the recent Patriotic Conference convened at Wellington by the Hon. G. W. Russell, presented the following report:— We have the honour to present our report in connection with the work done and the findings arrived at, at the following Patriotic Conferences; (.V) .At Dunedin, held on Monday, February la, 1916; (b) at the Dominion Conference held at Wellington on Thursday and Friday, February IT. and IS, HHfi. We desire to preface our remarks concerning the meeting with the representatives of the Otago Committee by intimating that we were received in a perfectly candid and extremely cordial manner. The result of our deliberations has made it quite clear that Southland can co-operate with Otago to the fullest extent without the slightest fear that there Is any desire on the part of Otago to conceal the identity of Southland in any matter appertaining to the Patriotic movement. THE QUESTION OF BOUNDARIES. It has been found both necessary and desirable that there should ha a clear understanding with regard to the boundaries in which each Society shall operate. The agreement arrived at in respect to this is that “Southland'’ is to mean all that country within the Southland Provincial District, including the Southland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board’s District, which in turn includes Queenstown. Arrowtown, and Glcnorchy, etc. As it has been agreed that the domicile of a soldier prior to enlistment determines the responsibility of a Patriotic Society, then all soldiers who were or may be domiciled in the above area prior to joining the forces, becomes the charge of the Southland War Funds' Association. CO-OPERATION REGARDING SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO THE FRONT. It is probably well understood that the Otago Military district comprises the whole of Southland and Otago, with headquarters at Dunedin, and that all men from Southland are included in the Otago companies and quotas. In the circumstances it was somewhat natural that the Committee at Dunedin deemed it their responsibility to tend to the requirements of all recruits proceeding from every part of the Otago Military District, including Southland, and to make provision in like manner for each man so far as comforts and extra equipment were concerned. But this has led to duplication and overlapping inasmuch as the Southland Committees have al-

ways made adequate provision for their own soldiers. To remedy this state of affairs —to avoid wastage and duplication it is necessary to arrive at a definite understanding regarding the whole question of the provision of comforts for soldiers from the Military District. Your delegates make the following recommendations : (1) That, in view of the fact that the Defence authorities now provide a thoroughly complete outfit for all men, tlie practice of committees granting gift parcels of articles of equipment to soldiers either in camp or proceeding to camp should cease. Note; —The Otago Committee fully endorses this proposal. Any articles of clothing given to men prior to proceeding to camp are simply deducted by tlie Stores officers from the usual supply provided by the Defence Department at the Comps. (2) That the aim of the Otago and Southland Committees should be to provide an adequate and liberal gift parcel to all their soldiers, such parcels to be

distributed to men on the transport just prior to arriving at the destination. (3) That owing to the extreme difficulty of ascertaining reliable particulars as to what is required at the front and as to whether the contents of cases of gifts forwarded for the benefit of the men in the firing-line will not be distributed, that the Committees dealing with extra equipment and comforts should confine their efforts solely to the supplying of articles to be included in the gift parcels for distribution on the transport. (4) That with a view of regulating tho packing and forwarding of parcels of gifts supplies of articles be forwarded in the first instance to the Central Committee at Dunedin, where they will be uniformly arranged for the purpose of seeing that every parcel contains exactly the same quantity. All parcels, and when c6nvcnient, the articles themselves to he stamped: "From the "Women of Otago and Southland.” Note: —The Otago Committee has agreed to the stamping. It is also willing to schedule and record particulars of all articles forwarded to it by other Committees and to keep such Committees fully, advised as to what is being done. Finally it undertakes to see to the provision of a parcel to every soldier from this Military District quite irrespective of what quantity of articles is received by it from other Committees. After full consideration, and with the knowledge of the splendidly-organised system adopted by the Otago Ladies’ Patriotic Association, your delegates strongly urge the co-operation herein suggested, and also recommend that tlie Southland Committees provide regular quotas of money to purchase their share of tho articles or as an alternative supplies of tlie articles themselves. CO-OPERATION REGARDING RETURNING SOLDIERS. Owing to Dunedin being the military headquarters for Otago and Southland, all information regarding returning soldiers is readily ascertainable thereat, and the Otago Committee lias kindly agreed to transmit such information to this committee. In tlie past great difficulty has been experienced in obtaining particulars regarding returning Southland soldiers and this assistance from

the Otago Committee will greatly aid the local Committee to make adequate arrangements for meeting the soldiers ■with cars, etc. CARD OF WELCOME. It has now been arranged that the Otago Committee will hand to every soldier returning to Otago and Southland a card of welcome giving the fullest infor- ; nation of the privileges available to returned soldiers in Dunedin and Invercargill, and indicating that the Committees will gladly do everything to assist all such soldiers. As many soldiers returning to the South detrain at wayside stations, the Southland Committee is unable to get into immediate touch with them and the great advantage of the cards of welcome being handed out in Dunedin is self-evident. DOMINION’ CON FED FNCE AT WELLINGTON. Your delegates have to report that they attended the above Conference, held at Wellington on Thursday and Friday, 17th and ISth February, ID 16. and that they were also attached to the Special Committee appointed to frame proposals dealt with at such Conference. MAIN OBJECT OF CONFERENCE. To clearly dfline the respective obligation of the Government and the J’ai triotic Societies towards the soldiers and their dependents, and to thoroughly establish a principle as to whether the patriotic funds were intended to absolve the State from any of its responsibilities, or whether they were subscribed for the purpose of supplementing the state allowances was the main object of this Conference. VIEWS OF SOUTHLAND DELEGATUS. In this'highly important matter of opportioning responsibility your delegates strongly advocated that the funds were never intended to relieve the public Exchequer, but that they were donated with the aims (a.) of minimising such suffer, ing arising out of ,the war that cannot be treated with sufficient liberality through scheduled State payments; (hj) of supplying additional comforts—i.e., such comforts that cannot be considered as absolute necessaries. The Southland representatives considered that the only satisfactory policy was for file Government to assume a non-existence of patriotic societies and make such provision as it would have done were there no patriotic funds for soldiers. Tour delegates moved the following motion: — “That, in the opinion of this Conference, the responsibility of restoring the returned soldier (and/or his nenendentsl to as nearly as possible the

■ condition of life he (or they) enjoyed prior to his joining the forces is the duty of tl:e Government.” This was adopted by the Conference. DEFINING THE RESPONSIBILITIES. A small Special Committee, of which one of your delegates was a member, was set in) to report on this whole question, witli the result that the following memorandum was laid before the Conference and unanimously adopted by it; —■ (a) That nil expenditure necessary to enable Iho sohlier to fully carry out his duties, to maintain him at the lushest point of efficacy, to fully provide tor all his needs in the event of ills sickness and disablement, to fully restore him as nearly as possible to his ordinary position in civil life is the responsibility of the Government. (h> That the duty of providing in an adequate manner for the dependents of a soldier while on service, or in the event of his death or disablement, is also a responsibility of the Government. (c) That the duty of the patriotic - societies is to supplement the provision made by the Govef-nment:— First — By suppling- any additional as r assistance needed by soldiers or their dependents. Second—By helping in any manner , which will facilitate the complete recovery and restoration to their former station in civil life of all sick and wounded soldiers. Third—-By assisting all genuine cases of need arising from the death or disablement of soldiers having dependents, the aim being to minimise suffering arising out of the war.

CO-OPERATION AND FEDERATION. The grave necessity for a full and complete organisation in each province, and in addition unity and uniformity throughout the dominion in regard to patriotic effort has now been made quite clear. A special sub-committee, upon which Southland was represented, was appointed to report to the Conference on the whole question of co-operation, federation, and organisation. The following is the report, which was unanimously adopted by the delegates;— There shall be a Federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Societies. 1. The objects of the Federation shall be as follows; (a) To establish a common basis of responsibility in respect of each Society as applied to those entitled to relief. The domicile of the soldier prior to enlistment shall determine the responsibility of the respective societies. (b) To adopt means to prevent the improper exploitation of the funds. (c) To take into consideration all matters affecting the administration of funds raised for the benefit of soldiers and dependents. d) To adjudicate upon such matters of dispute as may be referred to the Advisory Board for decision. (e) To promote in all respects all matters conducive to the well-being of federated societies.

2. The Federation shall be mariaged by an Advisory Board, as hereinafter mentioned. 3. An annual conference of delegates shall ho held at such time and place as the Advisory Board shall determine. Notice of the time and place shall be given at least one month prior to such Conference. The first Conference shall be held not later than August 4, 1916. 4. The annual Conference shall consist of delegates from tiic Federated Societies on the following basis: — (a) Each Society whose fund amounts to a sum of £SOOO, but not exceeding £50,000, shall he entitled to appoint one delegate: each Society whose fund amounts to a is.um exceeding £50,000 shall he erftitled to appoint two delegates. (b) The ammount of the fund of a So-

ciety for the purposes of this rule shall be deemed to he tho aggregate amount of funds collected and raised by if from the date of its inception to the date up to which its last preceding annual balance - sheet for the time being shall have been made up; such amount to be determined, if necessary, from the annual balancesheets of the Society. (c) Each delegate shall have one vote at the Conference. (d) If any Society shall be unable to send a delegate or its full complement of , delegates to any Conference, it may by writing, under the hands of the President and Secretary, appoint a delegate of another Society, or a delegate of its own to act and vote on behalf of tho absent delegate, or delegates, as the case may he. 5. At each annual Conference the delegates from the provincial districts of Auckland and Wclington respectively dial! elect two members, and the delegates from the provincial districts of I'aranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, md Southland shall each elect one member, who shall form an Advisory Board, .vhich shall act as a committee of manigement of the Federation. Each mem3er shall hold office until the appointne.nt of his successor. The members of :he Board shall elect a chairman, who shall he chairman of the Federation nn;il his successor is appointed. The chairnan shall have a deliberate as well as a lasting vote. 6. The first Advisory Board shall he Mected at a Conference held in each pro.incia! district, the Minister to be rcliiestod to convene such Conference as speedily as possible, in order, that tho irst meeting of tlie Advisory Board may >c held in tiic first week in April. 7. Tiie Conference may from time to ime amend, alter, extend, or repeal these •ules, or the objects of the Federation by •esolution at a meeting of the Couformce, of which duo notice shall lie given, specifying tiic general nature and ciiaricter of the alterations proposes! to be undo. Such resolution shall ho passed iy a majority of at least two-thirds, of lie votes exercisable by the delegates at he mooting of the Conference. Your delegates desire, to make it cieary understood that this schcrtie of federLtion in no way implies that tho Advis>ry Board lias tlie right to make levies ipon Societies to aid weaker districts, >r for any other purpose. If is simply i Board of Advice, and has no powers of lictation. The Minister congratulated tho Comnittee upon its findings, and expressed Measure at the scheme of federation pro>osed. Steps will require to he taken to aploint a delegates to represent Southand on the Advisory Board. DUTIES OF PROPOSED ADVISORY BOARD.

The present confusion of patriotic funds, the overlapping' of work and tho consequent waste, of energy is attracting attention throughout the dominion and although your committee lias from time to time urged upon the Government tho necessity for having matters amended and appointing a central authority, nothing lias been done. Referring to this question the Post of the ISth inst. points out that Xew Zealand's misfortune in this maze of patriotic funds is: “So many men but no leader.” In many towns there exist several committees, each doing practically the same work, some making such articles as leather bandoliers, some forwarding large quantities of articles without any adequate information as to whether they are required. Rady Liverpool Committees, Ked Cross Societies. Overseas Clubs, and r.adies’ Patriotic Committees, are instance}:. Vour delegates moved at the Conference that it Vie a recommendation to the Advisory Hoard that it sft up a pub-committee to act as a ComirUssion and to visit the different centres of the dominion and confer with patriotic societies with a view to co-ordinating and systematising the whole work of the ladies' committees and generally to endeavour to place tlie movement on a proper basis. Tins was adopted by the conference. The Minister of Internal Affairs informed the Conference that his Department will ofhdally recognise the Advisory Hoard as the authority and intermediary of the Patriotic Committees throughout the dominion. He indicated that lie felt sure that the other Government Departments would do likewise. KXT ft A COMPORTS FOR SOLDI MRS. In response to an inquiry at tho Conference, tire Hon. .las. Allen intimated that in a recent communication the High Commissioner stated that some £ISOO per month was required for the purposes of tho Comforts Fund in England, and £ISOO per month for Egypt, Malta, etc. The Minister for Defence, therefore, suggested that the patriotic societies should supplement that fund to tho extent of

£2.000 a month in order to provide extra comforts for the men. All that they were asked for, lie said, was the extra comforts. Your delegates considered this a legitimate charge on the patriotic funds and moved that the f.'IOOO necessary to .supply extra comforts for Kiel; and wounded New Zealand soldiers in Egypt and England as mentioned by the Hon. Jas. Allen, be subscribed by the Patriotic Societies throughout the dominion on the quota system, as with (be I3e:gium Fund. This was carried by the Conference. Southland's share of this amount will be approximately £ISO monthly. OTHER RESORPTIONS OF THE CONFERENCE. On the reenmmendafen of the committee which considered the Minister's suggestions, made a-t the opening of the Conference, it was agreed that the treatment of discharged soldiers as regards—• (a) Health, (b) Board, lei -Monetary assistance for clothing, railway, coach, and steamer fares, etc. (,d) Employment and establishment of businesses for those to whom assistance in this form is practicable, (e) Assistance to widows and children, parents and dependents, shall -ho primarily the duty of the Government to attend to, and that it bo with n tiio scope of the patriotic societies; to supplement the action of the Government, each, case to be dealt with by the several societies according to their own views, having regard to the wants cf individual cams. but approximately as nearly as may be to uniform principles of assistance. That funds not immediately required be invested in the name of the Society, in securities authorised by section 6 of the War Funds Act. and that the Government he requested to pay interest on moneys invested in the Post Office Savings Bank from day to day at 1 per cent, on the money invested, although exceeding £IOOO. (g) That the establishment of homos and hostel:; for discharged and undischarged soldiers is primarily a matter for the Government, but that Patriotic Societies may make grants for the supplying .of extra comforts. (hj) That the establishment of clubs bo encouraged as much as possible by patriotic societies. (ij That it bo a recommendation to tiie Societies to set up special sub-com-mittees* whose duties shall be to visit both "in” and “out” patients at hospitals and convalescent homes, and that the Government be asked to give facilities to properly accredited representatives of the committee. (j) That the Government take steps to discourage the ••treating” of soldiers in uniform to liquor. SPECIAL BOARD OF APPEAL.

Regarding- the question of a Board of Appeal, the Minister of Internal Affairs stated:—".lt is possible that in some cases soldiers have been discharged from tlie forces before their condition of health justly warranted such discharge. 1 am disposed to think that possibly a Board of Appeal may be desirable to review the decision of the military authorities in those case*-. I make thin statement with a full sense of responsibility as Minister of Public Health, and 1 feel sure my colleague, the Hon. the -Minister of Defence, would he tlie first to admit that where a mistake had been made by the discharge of a soldier whoso' condition of health really rendered further treatment in hospital or convalescent camp necessary it should be at once rectified, so that the soldier should not suffer. It would be quite possible to establish such a Board of Appeal by utilising the .services of the medical officers of the Public Health Department, assisted by two civilian medical practitioners. I believe that were this pro-

posal followed out it would give satisfaction alike to'the soldiers, their relatives, and the people of the dominion.” The Conference unanimously approved of tlie establishment of this Board of Appeal. OTHER MATTERS INQUIRED INTO. While in Wellington your delegates inquired into a variety of matter of interest to the Committee. SOLDIERS’ BOARDING ALLOWANCE. A great deal of misunderstanding exists regarding this. It is a payment of 2s per day to soldiers on sick leave only. Soldiers on ordinary leave do not receive tit is allowance. Prior to the decision to grant this concession being made no record of dates of the granting of sick leave was kept by the Paymaster’s Department, the consequence being that when it was resolved to make tlie payments retrospective a great deal of information had to be obtained front the Health Department to enable tiic ! Paymaster to forward correct pay warrants. This lias occasioned delay, but a largo staff of assistants now have the matter well hand. SOLDIERS’ PAY AND PENSIONS. It has frequently occurred in the past that a soldier has been left .without his military pay between the time of his discharge and the granting of a pension. Under the new system a soldier receives three weeks’ pay after the notice of his discharge, so that pensions arc actually available before the pay stops. Pensions commence from date of discharge. Your delegates advocated the association of a member of the Patriotic Committee with tlie Medical Board, in order to help the soldiers generally and to fill in their application forms, but this was not taken up. DATES OF PAYMENTS. Separation allowances are forwarded on the last day of every month. Soldiers’ pay is forwarded twico rnonthiv — namely, on the 15th and last days. The difficulties which the committees have to face in connection with the practice of granting soldiers advances on their pay wore explained to the Paymaster’s Department, but lire officers could sec no reason for soldiers requiring such assistance, and would not alter the present arrangement. CONTINUOUS EFFORT SCHEME. The -Minister administering tire War Funds Act. has approved of the Southland Committee's continuous scheme, and tiro chairman is to bo empowered to grant the collectors permits as required by tire Act. REPORT .ADOPTED, Mr W. Macalister moved that the report be adopted, printed and circulated. Mr .i. Crosby Sinittr seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr .1. Gilkison moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the chairman and secretary for tlie useful service they had rendered as delegates to the Conference. Mr H. W. Royds, in seconding the motion referred to the enormous amount of work Mr Rodger got through as chairman, and added that the Committee was fortunate in having as chairman one who was so highly qualified tor the position and able to give up so much time to the work attached to it. The motion was carried by acclamation. In acknowledging the vote Mr Rodger amplified some of the more important sections of the report, and said that j there was every reason to believe that | as the result of the Conference the administration of Patriotic Funds throughout the dominion would be put uoon a more satisfactory footing.