Welfare Committee Set Up For Patriotic Work

Chronicle (Levin), 23 March 1949, Page 4

Welfare Committee Set Up For Patriotic Work

The distribution of patriotic funds and the setting up of a new committee to-deal With applications for grants Were discussed ^esterday by the Zone F Committee of the Wellington ProVinciai Patriotic Gouhcil in Levin. Zone F covers the Horowhenua district and includes the three boroughs of Levin, Shannon and Dtaki. Up to the ptesent time any calls upon the funds have been deliberated by the zone committee, but this has proved a little unwieldy and, by a de.cision of the council, it was recently decided that eaeli zone committee should appoint a /Welfare committee consisting of members Of the council, representatives of. the boroughs and county and all ex-service organisations. With this in mind, the chairman of the local committeei Mr. H. B.

Burdekin, called yeSterday's meet-i ing. After reading a letter from, the honorary secretary-treasur er | of the council, Mr. B. O. Peterson, explaining the position and setting j out the basic requirehients, a short discussion followed. The methnd of appointment oi welfare committees, the term of appointment of members and the fllling of vacancies WoUld be at the discretion of the zone committee* commented Mr. Peterson. This, remarked Mr. Burdekin, was most important, as varied opinions were held as to the term of appointment. In the meantime it was suggested that there would be only one cehtral committee, explained Mr. Burdekin. Whem it became necess'ary, others could be formed in the Yther two boroughs of Otaki and Shannon. The zone committee would only meet for formal purposes once or twice a year, and t.he welfare committee would take over Control of the distribution of funds. The main thing in dispensing

relief was gettmg it mere piumpu-. ly. ' j The meeting decided that there, would be three R.S.A. representat'ives, one representative of tne Home Servicemen's Association and three civilian members on the zone weUare committee. These were appointed as follows: — Messrs. F. H Hudson (Horowhenua County council, H. L. Jenkins (Levin Borough Council) , H. B. Burdekin (Provincial Patriotic Council), N. M. Thomson, J-. C,orbishley and L. W. 'Allen (Levin. A.> .and R. Fo'wler (Home Ser.viaemen) . I The welfare committee would decide on Uts own formal proc'edure, said Mr. Burdekin, and would elect its own chairman, d'epu ty- chairman' and ■ secretary. In the 'ordinary coutse bf events 'the 'apphcations' 'would be forwardod through the ex-service organisa,tions, but should there be any ,peri,sqn not belonging to.the ex-seryice CrganisatiOns, their applications would be forwarded through the civilian members. There were no local members of the committee in Otaki or Shannon to forward such applications, commented Mr. A. M. Colqunoun. It

was unfortunate that the committee 'was tied down • and he would - like to see represent-ation from both Otaki and Shannon. Foliowing a short discussion, it was reSolved that the welfare committee be requested to arrange for local advisory committees to be set up in Otaki and -Shannon to review all claims before forwarding them to the welfare committee, and to have the power to grant immediate relief of up to £2 in any one case.