WAR RELIEF FUNDS
FIBST CONFERENCE
A VARIETY OF PROBLEMS
The first conference of delegates from the societies affiliated to tho Federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Belief fr'ocieties was held yesterday. The Hon. J. T. Paul presided, and there were 35 delegates present. The president said that the Advisory Board bad done good work, particularly in preventing unwelcome regulations for the government of the societies being gazetted. Rate of Soldiers' Pay. i Mr. if. Begs (Olago) moved: "That the rato of pay to members of the Expeili-. tionarj Force be at the rate of ss. pet day for the first month, instead of -is. per day." Mr. Begg said that somo men enlisted because they could not get work, and during the first stage of their soldiering their dependants 'were badly oft', and had to be relieved by patriotic societies. Mr. H. Morison (Masterton) seconded the motion'. Tho motion was carricd. Local Committees. Mr. J. Begg (Otago) moved tho desirability of the appointment in the larger centres of local advisory committees, as provided by Section 25 of the War Pensions Act. Mr. Begg thought that if the remit was carried a sub-comniitteo should bo set up to make recommendations in, the matter. 'Mr. W. A. Cox (Southland) seconded the motion. Mr. W. Ferguson (Wellington), who opposed tho motion, thought that thero hiight be small advantages and great disadvantages. The motion was lost. Allowance for Returned Men. Tho following Ota£;o remit was adopted:—"That messing allowance bo paid to • all returned men, while awaiting Medical Board, after discharge from hospital, find altogether a more libeiui interpretation of the conditions under which this allowance may bo paid. The deletion ot the word 'sick' in paragraph C, of Clause 62, of tho Keturned Soldiers' Handbook, would meet tho case." Tho Property of Soldiers. Mr. J. Dougall (Canterbury) moved: "That ths Prime Minister be approached to securo legislation establishing a moratorium, so as to give protection to soldiers in respect of property- owned by them upon which money is owing, unless a Judge of the S'iprcino Court otherwise directs, and the conference suggests for Government consideration tho basis of relief already granted by the British Government. Mr. C. Williams seconded tho motion. Mr. W. Ferguson (Wellington) said that the position had changed since tho introduction of compulsion, and the Government had made no provision. The motion was agreed to. Compulsory Allotment to Families. Mr. J. Dougall (Christchurch) moved: "That on married, men being attested they be compelled to mako an adequate allotment, to take effect from the date of their attestation." The original motion stipulated 3s. a day as an adequate allotment, but the matter of amount was deleted. The Auckland delegate said .that his experience was that 6ome men escaped responsibility, but others gpo their families almost everything, and got through on the shilling a day, which they retainI ed for themselves. ! The motion was carricd. . Postal Facilities. Mr. J. Dougall (Canterbury) moved:— "That the secretaries ot' the various societies bo furnished with a copy of the regulations dealing with the postal concessions granted to patriotic societies eo that same can be complied with, and tho concession not jeopardised through ignorance." "That tho Postinaster-Gcnerjil be requested to permit printed envelopes readdressed to the society for the purpose o'f obtaining receipts from gratuitants for cheques ' forwarded to be returned free, to facilitate the obtaining of receipts for audit purposes." "That societies be permitted to continue the practice of posting ietters under the stamped signature of its secretaries, and that the onerous regulations requiring personal delivery of postal matter over the counter be only applied to those societies transgressing the regulations." . Mr. W. Ferguson (Wellington) said that this matter could be fixed up by going along to see the secretary of the Post Office. In tho ease of Wellington, that had been done, with satisfactory results, and tho whole thing had only taken up a few minutes. The motion was carried. the Constitution. .Mr.. J. Dongall (Canterbury) moved:— "That the constitution be amended to provide that: (a) Societies may' appoint a prosy iu the event of the unavoidable absence of a member of the Advisory Board; (b) a ' member of the Advisory Board absenting himself without leave irom consecutive meetings of the, board shall, ipso facto, cease to be a member of the board; (c) upon a member dying, resigning, or forfeiting his seat, the society may elect another member in his place." Mr. W. l-'erguson (Wellington) moved to amend Clause A of the motion, thus: A member of the Advisory Board unable to attend any meeting mav appoint a proxy." After discussion Clause A .of the motion was withdrawn, and the amending clause was adopted. Clause B was passed. HV' fe" 60n mov cd as an amendment to 0: That upon a member dying, resigning, or forfeiting his seat the Advisory Board may, after correspondence, ascertain tho wishes of the societies as to the person to take the -place' of the member retired." . 1 Mr. Ferguson's amendment was lost, and the original clause adopted. How Money is Spent. Mr. J. Dougall (Canterbury) moved:—
"That patriotic societies contributing to tlm .£3OOO per month fund'should be advised as to the expenditure on comforts furnished in excess of hospital rations; and if possible the per capita expenditure be ascertained so that the number reiiuiring such assistance can be cabled (say, monthly), to enable, if necessary, additional amounts being remitted when it is obvious Hint tho money is required to provide lor additional men." 111'. W. Ferguson (Wellington) seconded the motion. He said that it was believed the money had been well spent, but they were entitled to have the information. The Hon. J. 'J'. Paul said the matter had occasioned the Advisory Board somo concern, and the Minister of Defence had told him on Tuesday evening' that the societies must have tlie information, nnd he would insist 011 the Home authorities giving it. The motion was carried. Information Wanted. Tlio conference decided to refer the following Wairarapa remit to the Advisory Board tor reconsideration :■ "That, in the opinion of this executive, a copy of tho medical and other reports which were placed before tho Pensions Board when they decidcd 011 a man's pension should be available to the secretary of a patriotic society in any special case tho society is intpiiving into, such documents to be treated as strictly confidential." To Prevent Exploitation. Mr. H. Morrison (Wairarapa) moved: "That to prevent exploitation of War Relief Funds all officers of societies empowered to grant relief to returned soldiers endorse on the soldier's pay-book the namo of the societies granting relief, and that no relief bo granted without production of .discharge and pay-book." Mr. Morrison said that tin's would bo a simple means of preventing exploitation of funds. They must have, some means of preventing men who bad got relief in tho city going to the country societies, too, for relief. Mr. M'Leod (Wairarapa) seconded the motion. Mr. D. M'Laron (Wellington) opposed the motion, as a man would, he thought, be justified in refusimr to allow anyone to writo in his pay-book. The proposed system might lead to deserving cases being left unattended to. Mr. W. Ferguson (Wellington) said that tho Wellington Society had looked into the question, and had come to the conclusion that tho pay-book was the property of the Government, and that tho societies bad no right lo mako entrios in it, and, moreover, that the system would be ineffectual. Mr. Lamer (Auckland) said that something inust be devised to prevent exploitation. Tho motion was curried. Advances to Soldiers. On tho recommendation of the Advis. ory Board tho following motion was brought forward: "That the conference consider the practicability of patriotic societies making advances to returned soldiers for tho' purposo of -taking up land or commencing business." Mr. H. _ Morrison (WairaTapa) expressed tho opinion that the question was not 0110 for the conference, but. for individual patriotic societies to deal with, no outlined the scheme adopted by the Wairarapa Society, and said that his society had advanced up to ,£2OO to soldiers without security. Mr. Hope Gibbons (Wanganni) said that his society was doing exactly what Wairarapa had dono in the matter of advances to returned soldier's. • Mr. E. H. Williams (Hawke's Bay) said that ho understood that &#■ Government were to bo approached nnd asked to purchaso certain land in Hawke's Bajr for the purposo of training inexperienced returned soldiers in fanning. From the remarks passed by previous speakers ho had gathered that they thought that at the present rate of advances nojnoney would bo left for the future. This idea was entirely wrong. It was only the beginning of the scheme, and more money would bo coining in, and the fund would naturally be increas. ed. I£e_ expressed tho opinion that people in New Zealand who. could, should undertake to givo an annual amount. Mr. Begg (Otago) observed that the Advisory Board should recommend the various societies to appeal to the people for funds at tho close'of the war. After further discussion, no 'action was taken in the matter. (Question of Domicile. . Considerable discussion ensued on a inotion_ brought forward by tho Wellington War Relief Association on the question of domicile. ]Ur. W. Ferguson moved-"That 'the domicile previous to the time of enlistment (within a reasonable period) shall determine the responsibility of each society." Examples were jiven of men residing in one district coming to another district and eulisting. The society at'tho latter place had communicated with tho society in the former district, making tlieni responsible for relief, ctc. In certain cases thqrjsociety in the district in which the man had resided would not entertain the liability, because the soldier hud not enlisted in that district. Mr. Lamer (Auckland) advocated a give-and-take policy. He said that .when an application was made for assist, ance tho main point to establish was: Did the soldier need help? If so, no question should be asked as to his domicile or place of enlistment, excepting for. purposo of, record. The caso should be taken on its merits, and tho necessary assistance should be given, and later the district' from which he camo could bo debited with the amount. It was finally decided that Welling, ton's motion, and ono by Auckland, to the oft'ect that tho question of reciprocity between the Auckland Association and any other societies would be more easily and yet more adequately dealt with by working 011 lines indicated by Sir. Lamer, were referred to the Advisory Board for consideration. Other Matters. The following Canterbury motion was adopted:—"That the Minister of Financo bo requested to exempit cheques and receipts from payment of stamp duties." "Tnat the Advisory Board should pay tho expenses of delegates attending meetings; of the board in Wellington, and should make a pro rata levy on tlio societies for that purpose," was a motion proposed by Mr. J. J". • Dougall, of Ckristchurch. It was explained that tho payment of espouses should only bo made to delegates attending meetings of tho Advisory Board, and not in connection with delegates attending conferences. The motion was carried. The principle of tho following motion by tho Wellington War Relief Association was confirmed, and then with-drawn-oil the understanding that tho Advisory Board will consider the mattor : —''War premiums: That tho conference urgo upon tliu Government tlio advisability of paying tho insurance preinia up to <CSO per annum on policies taken out by soldiers, (a) War policies carrying a special loading taken out by men who felt it their duty to mako somo special provision in tlio event oi their death at tho war or as a result of injuries or sickness, (b) Policies taken out before tho war: In cases whero mou wero insured previous to tho war, and for the benefit of tho wives and children or other dependants." , Tho South Canterbury Patriotic War Relief Society recommended that tho incoming- Advisory, Board take into consideration the treatment by patriotic socie.ties of men who have been discharged from military servico in disgrace, or who subsequent to tho dischargo have committed offences which may bo deemed to disentitle them to assistance from tho patriotic funds. This was agreed to. A further romit by the same society that it be a recommendation to the Advisory Board to consider "tho restriction of enlistment of men in the Second Division, under the Now Zealand Military Act, until men of the First Division are exhausted by voluntary or compulsory enlistment," was also agreed to.
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Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2841, 4 August 1916, Page 3
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2,079WAR RELIEF FUNDS Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2841, 4 August 1916, Page 3
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