"PARASITES"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 235, 28 June 1919, Page 6

"PARASITES"

PATRIOTIC FUNDS ABUSED. "The percentage of parasites ainoiij the applicant's for relief is increasing," suid Air. J. Entclioson at a meeting of the executive of. the Wellington .War Relief Association yesterday, "Some of the men \vlio v coine here are simply liquor hunters. The u'ousive language, apart front the danger of personal violence, is getting worse every day. Our officers are! subjected to itbuv because they won't hand ont money for booze." " j The secretary mentioned that he. halt instituted proceedings against one ,nian for assault. There appeared to be 110 oilier remedy in view of the nian'sieonduct. The number of for assistance was increasing, and the pressure of work was becoming very great. Mr, Hutcheson added tbot some of the men who were refused grants, for perfectly good reasons, 1 made themselves iuost objectionable. They would tell the secretary that they had "killed better men before breakfast." and so forth.

The chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp) said that the va'«t majority of the applicants wore deserving and decent fellows. But there was a minority, lie thought that the time had come when returned so-l-diers who attempted to obtain money from the association by false pretences should be prosecuted. Some glaring cases had come under the notice of the- committee, but no action had been taken. Members of the committee agreed that ihe funds of the association wonhl have to be protected against dishonest claims,