WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 185, 1 May 1919, Page 5

WAR RELIEF

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE 'The executive of the Wellington War Itelief Association met yesterday, those ■present being Messrs. L. 0, H. Tripp (in the chair), J. Hutcheson, J. Lewis, 0. A. Kwen, S. Kirkcaldie, Alex. Macintosh, James M'lntosh, and C. Jl.'luke; . The Applications Committee reported that the committee met on eight occa-

eions' since the last meeting cf the executive, and considered 255 applications, not including 12 claims for war bursaries, reported upon behalf of the National War I'nnds Council. Resultant upon the interposition of the Euster holidays, 51 additional cases are still under action, but most of.them will be disposed of prior to expiry' of the current week. The total claims lodged during the quarter ended March 31, 1939, amount to 852, consisting of 379 new applications nnd 473 renewals and' reconsiderations. Upon this'basis the claims for the year would exceed 3400, but during the nineteen working days of April, 1919, no fewer than 330 applications were received, some of them by men discharged over three years ago, and whose health had given way. There is every indication Hit, at the end of this year, approximately 4500 claims will have been dealt with,by the committee. ' '

It is now but seldom necessary to merely decide the amount and duration of a weekly grant required, from whatever catise, to supplement income; for many of. the cases at present being submitted to the committee could not very well be more difficult of solution, embodying as they do moral, domestic, and financial problems, the latter not infrequently resultant upon lack of knowledge in respeet to varying forms of State assistance, for which no application had been made. In a, number of cases all these features have been presented by the uosition of some of the branches of the lamily, and in addition sickness was being endured, and whilst one soldier contpinplated marriage another was proceeding for divorce, and yet another experienced difficulty in obtaining suitable employment; other members of the family had died for their country, the remaining soldier relatives being still in Europe.

The work of the committee is therefore not becoming simpler, whilst a much greater amount of work is involved in closer scrutiny of detail in each case than was necessary two years ago.

Conditions diametrically opposed to those referred to have been found in a number of cases where, as far as financo is concerned, enlistment has effected a. considerable improvement in the gross family income, and yet, through unforeseen contingencies, or under stress of circumstances, temporary grants have been warranted.

A considerable number of claims are still being lodged by New Zoalandere who did not serve with their own forces, but have roturned to the land of their birth, and conversely from Kalians, Canadians, and Australians, who (lid not serve with the N.Z.IJ.F., bsing domiciled within the Dominion ut pre-scrvicc date, or who journeyed to.it from-their respective countries.

It will''therefore Iμ understood that recently a record number of cases have been referred to tho hon. medical advisers, and to tho hon. solicitors, and others, and that without their immediate services so readily given, it would havo been exceedingly difficult to deal with many of tho complex claims now received, and this notwithstanding that application for Joans to establish soldiers hi business, for payment of traiueos , fees, for employment, etc., which in general are mattors far /beyond tho capacity of the committee's limited funds, are now being received in over-increasing numbors by the Repatriation Board, witlu whom the committee continues to work 1 in harmony. Other Business. The Finance Committee reported that' the expenditure for tho month of March amounted to ,£llO9 7s. Id., being an excess over income of M\'i is.. 10d., which wns met by the association's capital, the total funds of which amounted to .£71,823 11s. lid., at March 31, 1919. At a meeting of the committee, held on April 15, accounts amounting to JSIB3 Us. 2d. wore passed for payment. The report was adopted. .Subject to the approval, of tho Minister of Internal Affairs, it was decided to sanction a grant of ,£SB Gs. Sd. towards a. sum of ,£IOOO required as regimental funds for the troops remaining in Egypt. Tlie associations original contribution to a 'general sum for use as regimental funds amounted to ,£875, but tins sum has been exhausted, and as it had

been found necessary to detain some troops in Egypt, tho furthor grant of .£SB Gs. Bd., recommended by the Advisory Board, has boen found necessary,