SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2922, 7 November 1916, Page 6

SOLDIERS' DEPENDANTS

WORK.OF AVAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION. The. effort of the Wellington War Relief Association to get into touch with soldiers' dependants residing in AVelliug'ton city and suburbs is meeting with a large measure of success. Tho Women's National Reserve undertook the compilation of lists of names from the records of the Defence Department, and has completed the work up to and including the Thirteenth Reinforcements. The association decided at a meeting held yesterday to thank the Reserve for its invaluable assistance, and to ask it to complete the lists up to date. A letter is sent to each dependant explaining that "it is the earnest -wish of the association that tho family of every soldier, shall have sufficient means of support during the absenco of tho breadwinner, who is, or has been, lighting for liis country." The cliairI man of tho executive (Mr. AY. Ferguson) mentioned yesterday that many wives and other dependants had called upon tho secretary of tlio association in response to this letter. The majority of them were not applicants for financial assistance, but they stood in need of advice on various points, and tlio association was able to be of service to them.

Tho Wellington Association is still working on the "temporary basis" laid down sonic timo ago. Allowances are granted by the association so as to bring the income, after the rent is paid, up to tho following amounts: Woman and ono or two children, £1 15s. per week; woman and three children, £2 per week; -woman and four children.. £2 4s. per week; woman and five children, £2 7s. 6cl. per week. Referring to the work of tho AVomen's National Reserve yesterday, tho chairman of tho association said that the women had given their timo and labour without stint in order to preparo tile lists of dependants, and the service they had rendered had boon of very great value in assisting to bring tho association into touch with tho relatives of tho soldiers. The members of tho association appreciated tho efforts oF the Reserve very warmly.