PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2699, 19 February 1916, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

CONFERENCE RESOLUTIONS SCHEME OF FEDERATION ADOPTED Advisory board to be appointed nOMES, HOSTELS AND CLUBS , The conference of delegates of patriotic /societies' administering relief funds was continued and concluded in tho Concert Chamber of the Town Hall yesterday. The : Minister of Internal Affairs, tho Hon. G. W. llusseli, again presided. The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) presented ■the report of the committee appointed to consider a 6cheme of federation, the desirability of which the conference had ajnrmed on the previous (lay. . The comnuitee had decided to steer clear of tho rocks on which the previous scheme had .been wrecsed. The committee had unanimously agreed to the report, which he thought although in skeleton form would yet supply a basis on which a practical scheme could be built. The conference shouki tentatively affirm the principle of federation, leaving it to time to evolve a wider and practical scheme of federation.

The Minister of Internal Affairs agreed ulat by adopting tho principle of federation and affiliation in a loose form they would accomplish a great deal more than if they at once committed themselves to a federation on cast-iron lines. As" chairman of tho War Funds Council it would give him the greatest pleasure to regard the proposed Advisory Board as the body to which he should look for advice and assistance upon all matters connected with the patriotic funds. Tlip Defence, CoparTinent was preparing a complete' roll of all the soldiers who had left New Zealand, and this would give their domicile at the time they enlisted. This would be a confidential report, but would bo available, for the information of the patriotic societies. a

Mr. Paul pointed out that the federation was to bo managed by an Advisor)* Board, and it was for the conference to d"cido on what basis the board should be ■wietcJl.

Air. W. Ferguson moved: "That the members of the Advisory Board shall be elected at conferences to be held at each provincial district, and that the Minister be requested to convene such conferences as speeTiily as possible." I said, he understood that the A-avisory Board was to be elected that Say, .

"Tr. M. Cohen (Giago) asked what mandate that conference had to elect a board.

The'motion was adopted with the addition of the words: "In order that the first meeting of the Advisory Board may be held during the first week in April. The report of the committee was then adopted in the following form;—

FEDERATION OF N.Z. PATRIOTIC WAR RELIEF SOCIETIES.

"L The objects of tho Federation shall be as follow.— ~ (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 enlisbaont shall determine the responsibility of tho respective societies.) (1>) To adopt means to prevent the improper exploitation of the funds, (c) To take info consideration ' all matters affecting tho administration of funds raised for tho benefit ' of' soldiers • arid dependents, -(d) To i adjudicate upon such matters of dispute as may bo referred to the Advisory Board for decision, (e) To promote in all respects all matters conducive to the well-beinj of federated societies. "2. The Federation shall be managed by an Advisory Board as hereinafter mentioned. "3. An annual conference of delegates shall bo 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 i, 1916. "i. The annual conference shall consist of delegates from the federated societies on the following basis:— (a) Each society, whoso . fnnd amounts to a sum of ,£SOOO, but not exceeding .£50,000, shall be entitled ■ to appoint one delegate; each society, fund amounts to a sum ex-ceeding--«£,50,000,- shall bo entitled to appoint two delegates, (b) The amount of the funds of a society for the purposes of this rule shall be deemed to bs the aggregate amount of funds, collected; raised, or received by it from the date of its inception to tho date up to which its last preceding annual balance-sheet for the time Tieing shall have been made up; sncli amount to be determined,'if neces. sary, from the annual balance-sheets of the society, (c) Each delegate shall havo one vote at the conference, (d) If any society shall be unable to send a delegate or its fnil complement of delegates , to any conference it may, by writing under the hands of the president and secretary, appoint r, delegate of another society; or a delegate of its own to act and vote on behalf of the absent delegate or delegates as the case may be. "5. At each annual conference the deletes from the provincial districts of Auckland and Wellington respectively, shall elect two members, and the delegates from the provincial districts of Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Nelson, . Westland. Canterbury, Otago, and ixmthland shall eacli olect ono member who, shall form an Advisory Board which shall act .as,a committee of management of, the Federation. Each member shall hoid - office until the appointment of his successor. The members of the board shall elect a chairman who shall be chairman; of' tho Federation until his -eacrossor;- -;is ; appointed. The chairman shall have a deliberative, as well as a casting - vote. . "6, Tho membors of the first Advisory : Board shall be elected at conferences to be held at each provincial district, and the Minister of Internal Affairs bo requested to convene such conferences as speedily as possible, in order that the nrst meeting of the Advisory Board may ho Jicld during the first week in April. "7. The conference may from time/to time amend, alter, extend, or repeal these rules or the objects of the federation by resolution at a meeting of tho conference, of which due notice shall bo given specifying the general nature and character of the alterations proposed to bo made. Such resolution shall be passed by a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes exercisable by the delegates at tho meeting of tho conference."

Defining the Respective Responsibilities. A second committee of tho conference recommended the adoption of-tlio following memorandum as setting out tho prii£ ciples underlying tho respective responsibilities of the Government and tho patriotic societies:— '

'a. That all expenditure necessary to enable the soldier to fully carry out his duties, to maintain, him at tho highest point of efficiency, to fully provide for all his needs in the event of his si.'kness and disablement, to fully restore him rear as possible to- his ordinary position in civil life, is the responsibility of the Government.

"b, That the duty of providing in an adeqriatc manner for the dependents o* a soldier while on service, or in the eve Tit of his death or disablement is also a responsibility of the Government.

"c. That tho duty of the patriotic societies is to supplement tho provision made .by the., Government:— ■ : • Firstly, by supplying any additional . assistahco needed by soldiers or tbeir " dependents; Secondly, by helping in any manner which will facilitate the complete re-... covery and restoration to their former station in civil life of all sick and wounded 6oldiers; Thirdly, by assisting all genuine cases of need arising from the death or disablement of soldiers having de- • pendents, the aim being to minimiso suffering arising out of the war. . "Tour oommittee were not requested to carry out the above principles into matters of detail, but consider (he above memorandum, if accented by the conifli-

enco, will be sufficient to guide it in matters of doubt."

Mr. M'Laren (Wellington) said the committee had regarded it as a primary responsibility i>( tlio Government to deal generally with the needs of the soldiers and dependents from the time of his enlistment to his return to civilian life under circumstances approximating as much, as possible to those lie was in prior to liis taking up military service. Mr. Russell said that as Minister of Public Health he would undertake the whole of the responsibility which devolved on him in respect of the men. But he could not commit the Government. All ho could do was to refer their resolutions to' the Government, which would then collectively give its decision with regard to the points raised. He felt sure that the Government would fully recognise its rsponsibilities to the men, and there would be no desire on tho part of the Government to shirk any reasonable responsibility which was placed upon it in tho interests of the men who had enlisted. Tho report was then adopted. Treatment of the Discharged Soldier. Tho following matters had been referred to a committee under the cuainnnnship of Jlr. A. L. Arrowsmth (Taihape): 1. Treatment of the discharged soldier as regards—(a) health; (b) board; (c) monetary assistance for clothing; railway, coach, and steamer fares, etc.; (d) employment, and establishment of businesses lor those to whom assistance in this form is practicable; (c) assistance to widows and' children, parents, and dependents. 2. Consideration of investment of funds in order that the income may bo maintained at as high a rale as reasonably possible, and so that tlio funds may not be locked up. 3. Establishment of homes, ihostels, clubs, otc., for 6oldiers (both discharged and undischarged). i. Visitation ol' men in hospitals, and supervision of those who are out-patients. Yesterday the. committee reported as follows;—

' that the matters comprised iu Clause 1, ]t shall primarily be -the duty of the Government to 'attend to and that it bo u'ithin. the 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 tne wants of individual cases,, but approximately as nearly as- may be to uuiform principles ol' assistance.

'With reference to Clause 2, that tho funds not immediately required be invested in the liame of the Society in securities authorised by Section fi. of the War Funds Act, and that the Government, bo requested to pay interest ou moneys invested in the Post ,Oflico Savings Bank irom day to day'at 4'per cent, on invested although exceeding

Ihat the establishment of homes and hostels, for discharged and undischarged soldiers is primarily a matter for the (jovcrninent, bat that patriotic societies may make grants for the supplying of extra, comforts. That the establishment oi, clubs be encouraged as much as pos<<ri patriotic societies. . "That it be a recommendation to societies to set up special subcommittees, whose duties shall be to visit both 'in' and out" soldier patients at the hospitals and convalescent homes; and that the Government be asked to give facilities to properly accredited representatives of- tho committee." The report was adopted. War Funds Council, The Minister said that the War Funds Council, ho was pleased to say, would be an influential body. It liad certain funds in hand already, and he understood that the Bauk oi' '.New Zealand was to hand it .£IO,OOO for administration. . It would .also havo such funds as were handed to it by various districts. There were, he understood, several districts which wero contemplating handing, their funds over to the War founds Council. One district would probably hand over .£15,000. If those bodies holding funds.' on tho West Coast passed these funds over to the council for administration local committees would be set up in all the centres in tho West Coast. The War Funds Council would then bo.in a. position to tako over the entire responsibility for everything that might be required lor tho soldiers oil the West Coast. There were other districts which might consider tho same question. That, of coursc, would depend entirely upon whether they wero likely to bo financially strong enough to bo able to carry through on their own account: Ho heartily endorsed tho suggestion that the establishment of clubs be encouraged by the patriotic societies. At ChTistchurch they had established an exceedingly. fino institution for the soldiers, and ho conld not speak too highly of the splendid work done in this direction at Hawke's Bay and Hastings. There were also two soldiers' clubs in existence in Wellington, and he honied that in every centre throughout New Zealand similar provision would bo made for tho comfort nnd convenience of tho soldiers.'

The Soldier and His Pay. Mr. W. Ferguson (Wellington) moved:— "That this conference is of opinion that no soldier should bo left without military pay 'between tho timo of his discharge from the service and determination of the Pensions Board as to whether he is entitled to a pension or not." It had been represented by a number of returned soldiers that they had been left in this ivay without means. The soldier, it might be, was discharged as unfit for further military service, and he might also, at the time, be unfit for civilian work. He received what was due to 'him including certain travelling privileges for a fixed pfftiod and was then thrown upon tho world. It was not right that a man who had served his country shonld be asked to gfi, cap in hand, to the Patriotic Society, for tho means to enable him to exist until his application had boon decided by tho Pensions Board. Mt. T. B. Williams fWanganui) seconded tie motion. Major Norton Francis (Base Records Officer) said tliere had been some trouble associated with ths period that ela,psed between the stoppage of the soldiers' nay and the payment of tho pensions. This had been caused because the soldier would not put in his application for a pension. They had now established a now rule and hod to treat tlio soldier lileo a child. They did it to this extsnt: j\ soldier, say. was recommended for his discharge by the Medical Board. Before, however, tho recommendation was given eftect to, (hey insisted upon his giving the woteary information to the Defence Department an official from which was at tha sitting of tlie board-and he filled in tha application to the Pensions Board there and then. All tho soldier had to do was to take it to the Registrar of Pensions, and in ninety-nine cases ont of a hundred the matter was decided, and the pension was available before tho man's pay stopped, which was throe tveeks after he received his notice of discharge. There was the casp of a soldier who was discharged on November 25, which oamc under their notice. They immediately referred tlio matter \tj the'oomrnpsionoi's, and they were informed that tho application reached the board at the end of January. Tho hoard had at once granted a pension as from the timo the soldier was discharged, although the application had only just come in.

Mi\ Ferguson said Hint tho point ho wished to emphasise was that the pay should be continuous.

The motion was then agreed to. Another delegate mentioned complaints which had been made regarding delays in the payments to soldiers.

Mr. Knssell said that the Government were establishing inquiry bureaux, and any complaints would recoive immediate attention at the proper quarter. ' The Government woro naturally anxious to remove all causes of troub'e, discontent, or complaint. The men were being paid twice a month, but very often they changed their address, and the Department had ?r«\t difficulty in finding them.

General Resolutions. It was agreed, on tho iretion of Mr. W. M. Hamilton (South Canterbury), that tlie Government bo requested to take effective steps to discourage tho treating of soldiers in uniform to intoxicating liquor. On tho motion of Mr. A. W. Tiodger (Southland) it was decided to recommend to the patriotic committees that I he amount required for the nrovisiou of extra comforts for Now Zealand soldier's in ','nglaml, Kg.vpt, Alalia, and elsewhere, namely, ,£-1000 per month, be subscribed regularly by the patriotic societies on the quota system, on tho same basis as tho Belgian fund. At the instance of Mr, Rodger, it was agreed to recommend to (he .Advisory Unajd the auaointmeut o£ committees to..

visit and confer with the patriotic societies.

A resolution proposed by Mr. M'laren was adopted endorsing tho suggestion of the Minister Jn his opening speech, that a board ol' appeal be created in connection with the discharge of soldiers. The Minister staled that in some cases it was possible soldiers had been discharged from tlio Forces Wore their condition of health justly warranted it, and ho was disposed to think a hoard of appeal might be desirable to review the decision of the militaiy authorities in these cases. Close of the Conference. Tho Minister, in replying to a vote of thanks at tho close of the conference, congratulated the delegates on the splendid work which had been accomplished. Tho establishment of a federation by the patriotic societies was a great work which would have a powerful ofr&c-t throughout the whole country. THE MINISTTR AND THE RESULT. The Minister of Internal Affairs subseciuontly remarked that hp thought the results of tho conference were most satisfactory. Tho discussions had been characterised by great good feeling and by a desire on the part of the whole of tho delegates to bring about the federation that had been accomplished. The duty laid upon him by tho conference of calling a meeting of societies in the different districts for the purpose of electing delegates to tho Advisory Board proposed in the scheme of federation would l>e at once sot about. The conference had also been marked by an evident desire to insist on the Government carrying out its responsibility to the soldiers, and by a willingness on thp part of the patriotic societies to help in every way possible in spheres of usefulness which they consider outsido the obligations of the Government.