REPATRIATION BOARD

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5610, 6 May 1919, Page 2

REPATRIATION BOARD

THE FIRST MEETING ASSISTANCE TO RETURNED SOLDIERS. APPLICATIONS CONSIDERED, The first meeting of the Repatriation Board for the distinct of AVaihi was held in tlie Borough Council Chambers lost evening. The Mayor presided, and there were present Messrs W. P, Oua.vain, W. M. Jackson, 11. Pipe, H. Brown, and the secretary (Mr J. J Riitchie). The Chairman briefly explained the function of the committee, which, briefly, was that the local board was lealiy a sub-agency of Auckland. It would be the duty of the local committee to deal with all cases whore returned sol diers desired help or where it was thought wise to start a returned man in business. In the first place it wax hoped the committee would be of great assistance in finding employment for soldiers. In cases where it was impossible to find work the committee would be able to recommend a man for sustenance from week to week. He hoped that the local committee would get the powe,- to deal instantly with all such cases, because if r,he procedure had to be followed of referring to Auckland, and then awaiting an answer, a week would pass before the local Board could get a reply. He pointed out that in all cases where money was to be advanced on loan the parent body at Auckland would remit to the local committee, who in turn would be required to investigate all cases and make a careful list of the .securities offered. In no case would the borrower handle the money himself; this would be paid out by the local committee in a manner that would protect the securities. In illustration, the chairman added, suppose a returned soldier wanted £2O to buy a sot of tools. He would be asked to submit a i: st of the tools required, and would then, if approved by Auckland, receive an order which would enable him to procure the desired articles. Applications wore then received and dealt with, and it was decided that each applicant should be written to and apprised of the Board’s decision. The question of the amount of l clerical work which would devolve upon the secretary was then considered, and it was resolved, in view of the growing volume of. the business that would fall upon lbs shoulders, that the position should be met by a small bonus. It. was also resolved, for the better con duct of all future meetings, that sol : diers Da invited by advertisement to wait upon the committee on any Monday evening setting forth their claims.