HELPING SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3165, 17 August 1917, Page 7

HELPING SOLDIERS

THE RECIPROCITY QUESTION CHANGE NOT FAVOURED The question of reciprocity between patriotic societies was considered by 111© Patriotic Societies' Conference yestorday. Mr. V. larner (Auckland) moved:— "That tho present 6ystem of obtaining refunds from patriotio sooieties in connection with returned soldiers who enlisted in districts outsido the sphero of operations of tho society to whom tho returned soldier makes application for assisfenco bo discontinued, and in lieu thereof associations shall meet tho needs and assist roturned soldiers who. may apply to them and have been domiciled in or enlisted from other districts in exactlr tho same manner as would bo dono had tho soldier been domiciled of enlisted from their district. This will ensuro/ prompt assistance to all applicants, and will enable each society to deal promptly and effectively with applications."

Mr. Lamer said that it was hard to imagine a more "unworkable" thing than a domicile; it was frequently shift, ing, and was often hard to prove. Why should not a society provide for tho men in its midst? A Christchurch man did not fight for Christchurch alone, nor a ■Wellington man for ■ Wellington alone. Mr. J. Nash .d'almorston North): That is where wo want a national scheme.

Mr. Lamer said that unless tho present system was altered it would grow worse and become unworkable. There was even 1 now great grumbling amongst the soldiers, and if the .funds wero eventually taken away from the control of the societies the societies would.bo discredited. /

Mr. S. Williams.' (Christchurch) said that Mr. Larner had said nothing new and had not induced him to abandon the idea that tho present system was the best.

Mr. J. Nash said that Palmc'rsion North favoured a national scheme. Mr. A. Lever (Westport) hoped the motion would not be carried, and that the existing system would continue. The Hon. J. T. Paul (Dunedin) said Hie societies had got over more difficulties by the federation of tho .patriotic societies than they would ever have got over by the establishment of a national scheme. This was more a matter for mutual trust between the societies than for the making of cut-and-dried rules. From tho very start Auckland Beamed to have been under a misapprehension regarding this matter. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp tWellington) said if the scheme suggested in' the motion were made operative it would fall very hard on Wellington. In tho last three mouths Wellington had spent £mi lis. lfld. on men from other districts, :>nd other districts had in the same period spent £81 13*. <n Wellington men. Mr. C. M. Luke (Wellington) said that if tho proposal wero brought into effect Wellingtons funds would soon be exhausted. The motion was lost. Tho following South Canterbury remit was then adopted:—"That tho domicile of the soldier which' shall determine the society that is responsible shall be that stated in his attestation paper or in the official roll."