PATRIOTIC WORK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 6

PATRIOTIC WORK

SOCIETIES' DELEGATES MEET

DOMINION CONFERENCE

The annual conferenco of delegates from the societies affiliated to the federation of New Zealand Patriotic AVur lielief Societies was held in Wellington yesterday. Sir. L. 0. 11. Tripp (Wellington) presided, and there wero about thirty delegates present.

Addressing the conference, tho chairman said that at the first conferenco the Defence Minister asked the societies to contribute «C3OOO per month, for extra comforts for New Zealand soldiers abroad. The sum of .£18,313 18s. had been subscribed. A great deal of difficulty aroso in obtaining information from the Government as to the manner in which the money contributed by ihe societies was being used, and when the information was forthcoming it was found that the Government had received large supplies of money from other quarters, but'that the whole of tho contributions by patriotic societies had not been used. Contributions were therefore stopped immediately. A complete statement had now been received, and the balance in hand of ,£'6163 was last month transmitted to - the New Zealand War Contingent Association. The question of uniformity of relief was one that would require careful consideration. The patriotic societies had dono good work during the past year. To Finance Returned Men. It was resolved:—"That tho Government be requested to make financial provision for returned soldiers and their dependants, who may desire to establish themaelvee in buiness; such assistance to be along the same lines as that now afforded to returned soldiers Who may take Tip land. Tho advances to bo limited to the sum of Provision to bo macle for a sound investigation into all cases, and due protection afforded to the State against advances being made to applicants, who either, on account of their uns'uitability for the business proposed, or from other causes, cannot, upon'reasonable grounds, expect to succeed. That for the purpose of determining advances to applicants a board, comprising business men bo set up."

- Pensions. The conference adopted the following remit: —"That in the interests of -returned soldiers, many of whom have failed to appreciate their rights of application for Government pensions, and therefore suffer, the Government bo requested to mako provision whereby soldiers should •be required to lodge their applications for Government pensions, or signify their non-necessity of a pension at the same'time as receiving their provisional discharge." Care of Mental Cases. Mr. A'. Lanier (Auckland) moved: "That the Government bo advised that in the opinion of tbis conference- returned soldiers sintering from neurasthenia and shell shock should not be discnarged from the Forces while unable, owing to theu- conditioh, to sufficiently care for themselves, and tliat returned soldiers in that condition should be afforded suitable treatment before being discharged, and thus be subject to continued, military discipline, vhich is essential to their recovery." Mr. Lamer said that a doctor from a mental hospital should be appointed to deal with the mental cases. The ordinary medical practitioner was not capable ofdealing with such cases. Mr. J. Nash (Palmerston North) seconded, and tho motion wa6 carried.

Assistance from Patriotic Funds. Oh the motion of Mr. V. J. Lamer (Auckland), seconded by Mr. J. Nash (Palmerston North), it was resolved: "That tho affiliated societies be advised that assistance from tho patriotic funds should not generally bo declined to returned soldiers upon tho ground that they may not be entirely without money at tho time of applying for assistance, as such a courso would be placing a premium upon thriftlessness, and do injustice in many cases to deserving men who, by their steadiness and thrift, have saved a little money which will lie absorbed in their personal needs or in reestablishing themselves. In many such cases reasonable assistance from the patriotic funds is due, would afford satisfaction to the donors of the fund, and at the same timo be thoroughly deserved by the applicant."

Helping Men Discharged from Camp. Mr. Lamer (Auckland) moved: "That tho conference affirm tho desirability of all patriotic associations assisting men in necessitous circumstances who ' have been discharged from the training camps, as a large number of such men have made great personal sacrifices. On their return to civilian life considerable Hardship is often experienced, and in many cases there is an inability, arising from their breakdown in camp from the strainof training, to follow previous occupations. That notwithstanding the recent concessions of four weeks' pay and pension rights granted by the Government to men in these circumstances, ''Re conference is of opinion that assistance from the patriotic associations in necessitous cases is desirable." Mr. J. Nash (Palmerston North) seconded. The motion was carried. It was resolved: "That in cases where men breakdown or contract an infectious disease, while undergoing military irainiiv a careful medical examination .should be°'inade, and should their hexlth be found to have been impaired, they should be kept on full pay until fit to resume civilian duties." Remits Withdrawn, The following remits from Gisborne were withdrawn on the suggestion of the conference:— "111 view of the inability of the public generally to continue their voluntary "übscrip'tions, owing to the heavy weight of special war taxation, it is desirable that the Government relieve the various patriotic societies by imposing extra taxation for further relief of returned soldiers, on such a general basis as shall ensure that the weight may fall m lust and fair proportion on all those who contribute." "That it Tie o recommendation to the Government that our soldiers be given an opportunity, before returning to New Zealand, to get an insight into the indus-ti-ioo of Great I',-itain." "That the Government' bo asked to pay the public hospital expenses of wives anil children of soldiers at tho front." Financial Assistance Board. Consideration was given to the followin" motion, but it was not adopted:— "That the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Hoard be urged lo simply patriotic societies periodically with schedules givinpr details of assistance rendered to soldiers' dependants, to enable such societies lo determine whether additional assistance is necessary."

The Pensions Board. The conference resolved:—"That the Government be urged to give effect to the War Pensions Act by appointing local advisory committees in the various military districts, so Hint applicants for pensions may present their cases personallv to the local board, whose decisions could, if necessary, be made subject io review by tlio Central Board." At the' present time (it was said) injustices do oocur through the Central Board in Wellington not beim; able to obtain first-hand knowledge of the facts and, through tlio inability of applicants to pVt their cases properly by correspondence. Uniformity of Relief. It was reported that a sub-committee had provided a scale of relief for the "uidanco of societies which would be circulated confidentially to them for their consideration and report after tlio Government proposals of the present session had been passed. The Advisory Board recommended tbo conference to pass tho following resolution:— "(a) That, there should be no grant by right of servico in money or kind, but | that any grant in money or kind tauut

be in the discretion of each society taking eucli easo en its merits. "(b) That Brants for mufti should bo made only in doser/ing cases. "(c) As it is impossible for all societies to make grants for taking up land or starting in business it ; s recmimuided that no society jnako largo {(rants for either purpose." Tho recommendation -was adopted.

Other Decisions. Other remits carried wero:— "In view of '.he valuable concession granted by tho Post and Telegraph Department to patriotic societies, all societies be urged to utilise telegraphic facilities only in urgent cases." "That tho Government should immedintelv take steps to establish a training college for disabled and crippled soldiers, where expert advice and training in suitable crafts and industri;s would be given, enabling them to re-enter civil life with a reasonable prospect of earning a fair living." "That all appeals to tho public in tho nature of the soldiers' homes, hostels, art unions, and ihe kind should first be submitted to the local associations concerned for their consideration and approval. For instance, an anneal by somo society or body in AA'ellingt-m should be approved of by tho War Relief Association, which would signify lo other associations that the subject was worthy of consideration and support." The conference thanked the Advisory Board and tho secretary for their work during the year.