THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO Helensville, Thursday, July 11, 1918. MINISTERIAL VISIT. HON. SIR JAMES ALLEN AT HELENSVILLE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 July 1918, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO Helensville, Thursday, July 11, 1918. MINISTERIAL VISIT. HON. SIR JAMES ALLEN AT HELENSVILLE.

THE Hon. Sir James Allen, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, paid a visit to this district on Tuesday last, and was met at the station on the arrival of the 3.15 p.m. train from Auckland by the Chairman of the Town Board (Mr J. F. Lambert), and Messrs H. Aitkenhead, W. F. F. Raisher, F. W. Strange, Jas. McLeod, and W. Campbell. He was accompanied by Mr J. S. Dickson. Sir James looked somewhat tired after the wearisome train journey from Auckland, but nevertheless showed the usual jovial spirit for which he is noted. At the invitation of the Town Board, the Minister was entertained to a sumptuous dinner at the Terminus Hotel, presided over by Mr Lambert, and catered for by Host Archie Bishop in his usual satisfactory manner. About thirty citizens of HelensvilJe, representing most of the associations, leagues, and organisations, were present. t The toast list was as follows :— 'The King," proposed by the Chairman; "'Army and Navy," rroposed by Mr A. J. Hill, reponded to by Capt. White; "Our 3-uest," proposed by the Chairnan, responded to by Hon. Sir Barnes Allen ; " Our Allies," prcr losed by Mr Jas. McLeod, responded to by Mr Wallace ; "The 3oys ,at the Front," proposed by ttr Nicholls, responded to by Mr F. C. Rimmer ; '* Local Bodies," proposed by Mr Campbell,seconded by Mr Aitkenhead ; "A, and P. Association," proposed by Mr J. A. Wilson, responded to by Mr W. Rimmer.; " The Ladies," proposed by Mr Carter,1 responded to by Mr Strange. The Chairman apologised for the absence of, Messrs A. Becroft and H. Graham, who were absent owing to ill-health, and Mr Jas. Stewart who was at Wellington bidding farewell to his son. A telegram was read from the latter regretting that he could not be present, and extended his greetings to Sir James, appreciating the good work done by him as Minister for Defence. The proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem. A largely-attended public meet-' i ing was heldin the Lyric Theatre lat 8 p.m Mr J. F. Lambert, Chairman of the Town Board, who presided,introduced the Hon. Sir James Allen, and in doing so briefly referred to the extensive work he was engaged in as Minister for Defence and ActingPrime Minister. On rising to speak, the Minister was greeted with applause. He said the reason of his visit was that he wished to assure the electors that while their representative, Captain Coates, was away at the Front the district would not suffer by his absence ; it had not suffered, and was not likely to do so,,- indeed, this district should feel proud that their representative was away doing his bit for his country, honourably and with distinction. The speaker hoped that his visit here 1 would be as pleasurable to them jas it was to him. Sir James went on to say that he congratulated the district on the splendid voluntary response that had been made to the appeals for money, and for those services so gratuitously given, which would before very long reap their reward. He was pleased to announce that Capt. Coates had won the Military Cross and bar. , Much was due to the ladies for the strenuous and consistant work they had done by keeping in touch with the boys at the Front. The speaker had received hundreds of letter from the boys mentioning the comforts they were continually receiving from this source, and he urged the ladies to continue their good work. He was pleased to report that following decorations had been won by N.Z r bgys:—Distinguished Service Orde?,99 ; bar to same, 5 ; Military Cross, .307 ; bar to same, 4; Distinguished Conduct Order, 221, bar to same 3 ; Military Medal, 1195 ; bar to I same, 27; others, 95. Foreign Decorations—French 46, Russian 7, Italian 5, Belgian 52, Servian 29, Montenegro 3. A grand total of 3187. Lady Nurses—Royal Red Cross, first class, 7 ; second, class, 34. Sir James said our N.Z. women were not wanting when the call came, and paid a h ;?h tribute to those who were so nobly working for the relief of the wounded. Continuing, the speaker said that no Government has ever had such a task to perform as our N.Z. Government has had since this war began. A young

country, with its own Government, and many of the acts and laws just in an experimental state, and practically no definite system of defence, to look back over the past four years and find that they had accomplished all this. When at the outset of the War it was stated that we would require 7000 or 8000 men, it was said it would be impossible and would ruin the country. Up to the present date we had despatched 95,000" men, and yet the country was not ruined. * 22,000 men had returned disabled and sick, and the Department was doing its very best to put them on their pre-war footing. The question of repatriation was a bis problem, and the Government was doing its best to get the men into suitable employment. Institutions and workshops were being erected, and where practicable technical schools were being used in order that returned men can be trained, not particularly for wage-earning, but that they may be employed in some useful work wherby they could exercise those nerves and muscles which have been rendered dormant, and so fit themselves for some occupation. The Defence Department is paying 20s per week in addition to the pensions for this work. At Rotorua men were engaged in basket - making, leather work, and other occupations proving useful to them.

The Department is also arranging with factory owners to teach disabled soldiers a trade, and will pay up to £3 a week in addition to his pension, so that they may settle down as useful citizens.

The Financial Assistance Board was set up with the object of assisting soldiers, and the Minister said he wanted the public to know more of the details of this Board, and the help it offered to those going ito camp. This Board will grant assistance so that the amount left for the wife is not less than, £90 per annum. Further assistance may also be granted for the following : —Rent of house or rooms ; lodgings ; storage of furniture ; interest on loans, but not repayment of principal (in cases were interest and principle are paid together, interest only will be paid, and arrangements for repayment of loan may be made with State Advances office); interest and instalments on furniture or other chattels ; rates , and taxes, full amount; life insurance premiums and war loadings ; premiums on soldiers dependants ; new policy and war loading up to £300 if no previous policy in force ; fire insurance premiums on house and furniture; Lodge fees ; National Provident Fund (soldiers entitled to a remit of half; confinements, £s;free attendance at St. Helen's Hospital; surgical 'assistance, £1 for£l, up to £10.' The Public Health Department will pay all Hospital fees and any other reasonable expense that is warranted.

The speaker then dwelt on the matter of camps, and said that there had been many difficulties to contend with since the war started, and now he could safely say that the camps were now the healthiest places in New Zealand. Sickness was reduced to a minimum, and he could assure parents and next of kin that everything was being done that could be done in order that the boys might have every comfort while in camp. The total sickness for the week at Featherston camp was 200 cases, of a minor nature. \kt Trentham the work done by the training staff was very creditable to those in charge, It was there that the foundation of the soldier was made, and the speaker repeated that the authorities in England had commented most favourahly on the discipline of the N.Z. Division.

Difficulties had been experienced at times in securing the full quota, but this had all been over" come. We were out to bring the war to an honourable issue, and that issue was to crush/the tyrant who had placed himself in the way of freedom and honour.

The Maori soldiers had done good work, and were proving themselves worthy of their traditions. The outlying Islands —Cook, Nui, Gilbert, Fiji—had also sent a good number of men, who had left their native homes that they might help up in this struggle. Karatonga had given a regular supply of men, who were doing splendid work in Palestine.

In conclusion, the speaker said he felt' sure that he had the sympathy of the residents of the district in his work as Defence Minister, and again assured the electors that their district would be well looked after during the absence of their Member. His task a? Defence Minister and Acting-Prime Minister was a hard one, but he felt sure that he had the people with him' and depended on their sympathy and support, and this assurar.ce would greatly lighten his labours and assist him in. his work. (Applause).

Sir James Allen was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address, and a vote of thanks to Chairman closed the meeting.