THE WAR FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2877, 15 September 1916, Page 3

THE WAR FUNDS

ADVISORY BOARD

MANY SUBJECTS DEALT WITH

The Advisory Board of the Federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Societies met in Wellington yesterday. There were presont: the Hon. J. T. Paul (chairman), Messrs. E. 11. Williams (Hawke's Bay), G. Elliott (Auckland), V. Lamer (Auckland), Hope-Gibbons (Wanganui), W. Kirkivood (Tarariaki), L. 0. H. Tripp (Wellington), J. J. Dougall (Canterbury), W. A. Cox (Southland), J. Grimmett (Westland), and W. Snodgrass (Nelson). Messrs. M'Donald and Hugh Morrison (Wairarapa) aliso were in attendance.

The board , decided to not pursue the matter of stamp duty on cheques any further.

postal Concessions. Replying to correspondence from the board respecting postal concessions for Patriotic Societies, i the PostmasterGeneral wrote: —"Tho regulations of the Department relating to the postal and telegraphic concessions granted to Patriotic Societies are that tho postal mattor must not be deposited in posting boxes, but must be Landed in over a post ollico counter by tlie nominated person or persons, and that the telegrams must be'signed by tho nominated person. Telegraphic as well as poßtnl privileges were granted in the first rush to help Patriotic Societies at the outbreak of the war. It was quickly ascertained that it would be difficult to prevent the privileges -being abused'. It was also ascertained that as a general thing telegraphic privileges woro not required; the business of Patriotic Sooioties could usually be done quite well by post, and-for some time past the authority to extend privileges to bodies subsidiary to the main Patriotic Societies has . oxpressly excluded telegraphic privileges. Time after time the Department's officers had to ho cautioned against allowing abuse of the privileges."

Band Instruments. A letter was received from the De-' fence Minister respecting , the following resolution from the societies' annual conference,: —"That as band instruments are deemed to be an integral part of the equipment of the various reinforcements, tho Government bo urged to provido same so as to obviate the necessity for the continued appeals being made to the public by officers commanding.. units." The Minister's letter said: "I have to say. that, band instruments aro not deemed by the Dopajtmont to bo an integral part of tho equipment of tho various reinforcements, and it is tlioreforo regrefctod That they cannot bo provided by . the Department. Band instruments aro in all cases obtained • from private, regimental, or other funds. The provision of bands is not/ compulsory, and for the Government to assist in this direct/ion as requested would only create a precedent for similar domands not strictly within military requirements.' As regards the several sets of instruments which have been provided from regimental funds or public donations, etc., and taken away by preceding -units-, it was previously recognised that owing to tho reinforcements being draftod into the various regiments of ■ tho Expeditionary Forco on reaching the front, some would probably not bo required, and particularly while the forco was at Gallipoli. In fact, during tho latter period it was understood that instruments were stored in Egypt. The Goneral Officer Commanding was therefore written to, it being suggested that some sets might possibly be sent back for the nso of subsequent reinforcements. In the meantime, however, the New Zealand Division had been transferred to Franco, and I have uo doubt tha;t most of the instruments have Ijeen takon there for use in the rest camps, behind the firing line, and the sets available have been distributed by mutual arrangement as widely as possible among the various New Zealand regiments. It will bo realised that tho Department cannot direct that any sets be (returnee), as thoy are purely regimental property, and also that any responsibility in connection with them rests solely with tho regimental commander."

Allowance to Widowed Mothers. 'At tlio last meeting of tlio AdvisoryBoard a resolution wae carried that the widowed mother of a son, whether married or unmarried, who enlists, and upon whom she is wholly or partially dependant, should be entitled to an allowance. '

The Minister replied that Cabinet bad decided to extend the provision with respect to the widowed • mother whose unmarried son was her sole support, to include a married son. • Tho secretary of the society wrote again, saying: "This extension will 110 doubt bo very much appreciated by t|fo Advisory Board. I' would like to say that during the discussion on the question it was urged that your Department should place a more liberal interpretation upon the provision than is now the custom for it to do. If you would kindly consult with the officers administering this portion of the Defence work, somo arrangement might be arrived at which would be a little more flexible than the present administration of the provision."

The Minister has replied: "I regret' that it does not deem to inp to bo advisable to extend the provision with regard to the separation allowanco further than the Government has already agreed to. You will note that one of the conditions under which the separation allowance is granted to the widowed mother of the unmarried man is that lie should leave her his deferred pay or Is. per day if he has made an allotment to other dependants. I have agreed that this condition • filial! not apply to the married son, but that the separation allowance will he paid even though he leaves no allotment to his widowed mother, on the condition that he has made provision for his own wife."

The hoard decided to again endeavour to sceure more elasticity in the regulation.

Discharging Soldiers,

It was reported that tlic board had written to the Minister of Dcfence' asking that when a man is discharged, whether from camp or after service from any cause, information should at once be given to the patriotic society in the district of enlistment, and if a pension had been granted, such should be notified.

The Minister's reply was: "The information you asked for can be sup- 1 plied to you, but it will be necessary for your office to distribute what information is required by the various patriotic societies, as it would entail a very largo amount of work on the Defence Department to make separate returns for each district. The list of discharged soldiers will 1)0 supplied you monthly by the Base Records OfGce, together with a list of pensions issued during the mout.li. The discharge from camp would bo obtained through the Camp Commandant, and would bo available at the same time. It is hoped that these suggestions will enable your societies to obtain the Information required, and upon receipt' of your reply, I shall issue the necessary instructions." , Salvation Army Work, i Correspondent was tabled concerning a request by the Salvation Army ' for assistance from patriotio societies

respecting the Army's work in the camps. It was decided to rccotnmend to the societies that the work in question was worthy of support. Allowance for Children. Replying to representations from the Board, tho Minister of Defence wrote that the question of removing the limit of payment of the allowance to fiv© children "had been considered. It had been decided that this provision should remain, but that married men with more than three children would not be accepted for service unless for special reasons, such as non-commissioned officers, who draw a higher rate of pay than a private.

Extension of Moratorium. The Board's representations (previously published) respecting extension of the moratorium were replied to by tlio Hon. Sir Francis Bell, as Minister of Lands, who said: "The suggestions of your Board cannot be given effect to without special legislation. They, however, hare been duly noted, and will receive tho careful consideration of the Government." Free Technical Education. lu'iuisterial replies on the'subject of Free technical education for soldiers' dependants indicated .that the position is that the Education Department has the matter ' under consideration, and has written to the New South Wales authorities regarding the arrangements mado there. To Prevent Exploitation. . It was rosolved: —"That the Board recommend that as a further means to prevent exploitation of war relief fluids nil officers of societies empowered- to grant relief to returned .soldiers endorse on the back cover of the soldier's pay book the name of tho society giving relief and the date of the grant." Qiiostion of Domicile. Questions as to tho domicile of persons receiving relief were discusscd, and it was decided that the position as it now exists should remain, for the present, and be reconsidered in six months' time. Insurance Preniia. The following resolution from the Wellington War Relief Association was considered:—"That the conference urge upon, tho Government the advisability of paying the insurance premium up to £50 por annum on policies taken out by soldiers, (a) War policies carrying a' special loading taken out by men who feel it their duty to make some special provision in tho event of their death at the war, or as a result of injuries or sickness, (b) Policies taken out before the war: In cases where men wero insured beforo tiio war, and for.tho benefit of tho wives and children or more dependants." Tho conference decided to affirm the principle and refer the matter to tho Advisory Board for consideration and action.

It was decided to bring tile question before the Minister. A Practice Discouraged.' Southland submitted tho following remit:—"That tho Advisory Board express an opinion oil tho practice of presenting district medals to returned soldiers, and <to the relatives of soldiers."

An explanatory note stated:—"ln a large number of districts throughout the Dominion funds aro being raised to purchase gold modals, and to present them to returned soldiers and to tho relatives of deceased soldiers. It is contended' that monoys could bo put to a very much more usefulpurpose, and that, as there is a possibility of districts presenting modals to tho men who returned liomo first, and then failing to do so to men returning at a. later date, this would mean differential "treatment, and would no doubt load to ill-feeling. The Southland War Funds Association is strongly of opinion that tho practice should bo discontinued."

Tho board was of the opinion, that the practice referred to should bo discouraged.

State Aid for Soldiers

Southland moved: —"That tho Advisory Board discuss tho question as to whether tho Government should bo asked to ,provide State aid Tor soldiers other than those settling'on the land."

it was said: "There are manj soldiers who could not possibly make a success of farming or of other industries in connection with tho land, and to place such soldiers on tho land would mean that, they would make an utter failure of it. Is it possible for a scheme to be devised whereby such soldiers will receive State aid to enter into sciaio other line of business? At present it is only a man settling on the land that receives financial assistance from the Government, and this appears to bo differential troatmcnt."

The .matter was referred to a- sub committee. '

Periodical Statements.

It was also moved by Southland that mattors relating to Forms 3 and 3a being "quarterly" and "monthly" statements to bo made by every society administering war funds be considered by the Advisory Board. ' The Southland War Funds Association is of opinion that the monthly statements which have to be forwarded to the officor in chargo of the War Funds Office in Wellington should be dispensed with. Regarding tho quarterly statements, these require a certificate signed by three trustees, to tho effect that such trustees have examined tho statement and certified to its correctness. The Southland War Funds Association considers that already the work undertaken by trustees of patriotic societies and members of committees entails a great ■ deal of personal attention, and takes up a large amount of time, and that the work of examining the, society's books for the purpose of certifying to the correctness of statements forwarded to the Government, adds an unfair duty, and -that such .work should be undertaken by the auditor appointed by the Government. As the auditor's fees are now paid out of tho Consolidated Funds' it is thought that if the Government required tho certificates referred to, then it would be better for the War Funds Office to arange for the auditors to make a quarterly examination of the patriotic books and thus relieve the trustees of. tho responsibility. The board decided to recommend that nothing should be dono in this matter. Information Wantod. Another remit from Southland was: "That the Government Be requested to issue a leaflet to patriotic societies dealing with points upon which genoral information is required regarding permits to solicit contributions to war funds." "Diversity of opinion exists," it was added, "as to the conditions under which permits arc required for collecting. The Minister of Internal_ Affairs stated at a Conference of Patriotic Societies, held in November, that where persons were soiling flowers they were giving value, and that this would not | be regarded as making* a collection. The question arises: Is giving a concert considered as giving value to persons purchasing tickets? Then, again, permits aro not required for the collection of contributions by way of a general appeal at a public meeting. Does this mean that a travelling compauy which advertised that part of its. proceeds woro to be devoted to patriotic purposes woul(J require to have a permit to ■ chargo at tlio door } but if it (lid not advertise that it was going to give portion of its takings to the patriotic funds it could have a patriotic collection taken up at the entertainment without authority in tho way of a permit? Tho Southland War Funds Asso-

ciation is of opinion that information regarding all points of this nature should be furnished generally by the War Funds Office." The secretary was instructed to get the information and circulate it amongst the societies. An Art Union. Southland moved: "That the Advisory Board consider the regulations issued in connection with the Acts covering patriotic art unions and raffles, and that general information on these forms of t raising money be furnished to the committees." Southland was recommended to write to the Minister for tho information. Returned Soldiers' Hand-hook. . Nelson moved: "That it be a. remit to the Federation Advisory Board that application be made to the Defcnco Department that copies of the Returned Soldiers' Hand-book be handed to soldiers (returned) on the transport before landing, in place of the present practice of giving the book after discharge." The idea was approved by the board, and. it was decided to ask the Defence Department to adopt it.