WAR FUNDS

Southland Times, Issue 18843, 8 June 1920, Page 7

WAR FUNDS

SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION S REPORT. The fourth annua! report of the executive of the Southland War Funds Association states:— In presenting the fourth annual report and statement of accounts, your committee, termst realising the amount of attention already given to the men who so nobly took a part in the world's great conflict, and to the dependents of those who have unfortunately fallen, would again impress upon members the necessity of continued interest in the afftdrs of the'* association. Our work involves great responsibility, and must go on without any relaxation for tunny years to come. We should all recognise fully the necessity of keeping the association together for the benefit of those for whom the funds are intended. FUTURE POLICY. The future policy of the association in so far as disbursement of funds is concerned hits given your committee much thought. This partly in consequence of the fact that some Patriotic Societies have adopted permanent schemes for the relief of disabled .soldiers.

The question was discussed at a meeting of the Advisory Board in Wellington in March, and the Board was of opinion that no scheme should be put into operation until something of n uniform character throughout the dominion could be devised. With this object in view, and with (he ptiq-0.-e also of making proposals of a definite nature to other organisations engaged in patriotic work, a further conference of the Advisory Board will be held in May. In the meantime, your committee are carrying on as hitherto; that us to sav everv application is dealt with on its merits. The note appended to the It bruary report of the main commitlee reads as follows:--'The committee have given considerable attention to a proposed scheme for a schedule of pensions to disabled or partially disabled soldiers..and to those suffering from any war disability; also to the dependents of fallen or disabled soldiers, and have decided that in the administration of the funds in the best interests of those who .ire to be benefited, it. is better to shelve any definite scheme of this nature for some years Such a scheme, if adopted, would relieve ihe committee of a good deal of work, as the administration would be of a more or less routine nature, but so long as there arc members of the community willing to devote time and atlf,ru:un to patriotic duties pf'rtxin‘mg to the welfare of soldier, (and dependents of soldiers; ihe present system of considering every case un it- merits should he adhere:] to.*’’ On October 23. 1919, the Minister of Internal Affairs wrote regarding the necessity of local control end administration of patriotic money, and urged provision being made for the almost certain contingency arising as a result of war service, whereby men suf. fering from shell-shock, nervous ailments, ami severe physical injuries will require assistance for a long while to come. In replying to this letter, it was pointed our to the Minister that patriotic societies had special opportunities of observing soldiers in the process of reluming to civil life, anti rhotigh a targe proportion of men are resuming their former occupations nr talcing up fresh avenues of employment, without assistance front anyone, the fact must be reabsed that the remaining percentage includes men who are in a very bad way, physically or otherwise, w ho will require a helping hand for a long time to come. Moreover, many who have been and are being discharged as floss A men will, unfortunately break down when put to any severe physical or mental ttrain: this applies principally to those who hove been gesso,!, end those who have snflered from shell-shock. ’1 host- men are apparently quite ueil now, but time alone will tell what- is going to occur.

PERMANENTLY AND PARTIALLY DISABLED SOLDIERS. Schemes for the establishment of supplementary pensions tn permanently or partially disabled soldiers have been submitted by ♦he South Canterbury Patriotic Society, the Auckland Mar Relief Association. Taranaki Provincial War Relief Association, the North Otago Aid Association, the Canteroury Patriotic l-und, and (he Gisborne Patriot!" Society. In ■■ 31 these schemes there is a good deal of similarity; this matter has received a large amount of attention from the Committee of the Southland War Funds As-Odin ion. and proposals on various lines in the fineetion of supplementing Government pensions have been worked out. However, in view of the Advisory Board decision, and the fact that in future years greater need will exist for patriotic funds than at present, it has been deemed expedient to hold over the establishment, of any scheme of supplementary pensions until a wider survey can he ta.-sen of the position oi our returned men. FI NAN CT Al. ASS [STANCE. Ihe year just closed has been a particularly heavy one so far as claims for assistance are concerned. In ail 312.1 separate applications have been tinder t he notice of the committee, and the sum of £15,307 Os 10d has been paid our. It. will thus he seen that the fund has been of material assist and has fully justified its existence. No claim has been disposed of without full enquiry, and to the public of Southland who subscribed so liberally during the war period it must afford a great deal of satisfaction to know that their contributions have been of such great value to our returned men iu the process of resuming civil life, and ;o the relatives and dependents of those who have made the supreme sacrifice. Since the commencement of the Association. o 1-PI claim.-, have been considered. Of toe: nuinuer 244. nave been dealt with once on t\\ o f'ccusif>n*s, 10.> thr?c times, la. mur time--. ,T live rimes, 22 six times, 9 seven times, 11 eight times, 4 nine limes, 1 thirteen times and 1 filteeu tames. The Pillowing shows how applications were dealt with in 1 ftlD 120, the re-i.eclive totals being given in parenthesis: —Declined 140 t Idoi. by SAVF.A. for other societies 2K) 04 i, by other societies for S.W.F.A. 222 1-101 ’, referred to Government denartDienr.« fiO t 173., mufti grants 1500 (2190). Eight grants have been of sums less than £l. and fifty-two grants have been over £lO With the exception of claims for mufti allowance there is a vvdde range of difference in the applications for assistance. Some of these cases might he quoted for the information of members of the A.-s-ociation were it not for the fact that every care mast be taken to safeguard the confidential statements of applicants. Tn addition to dealing with claims for finuncial assistance from the patriotic fund, the office facilities are always available to returned men, and the valuable knowledge that has been acquired from time to time | has proved of great use in assisting men ! with regard to pension claims and other al- | low ances. In this connection it should he I noted that the greatest help is afforded at all times from the local offices of the LaruLs Department. Petvdons Office, Repatriation Department, and the Returned Soldiers’ As- ‘ Fociation. / MEETINGS. I Regular meetings of the Emergency Coni- | mi tree have been held twice weekly, also j monthly meetings of the Main f'-ommittee, | whilst all questions of policy and the gen- i

end business of the Association have been considered at the quarterly meetings of the Council. In addition to this, the secretary has made almost daily calls on members of the Eme-gency Committee for settlement of questions requiring immediate attention. Considerable aid has been given by country representatives iu all matters referred to them, ADVISORY BOARD. Two meetings of the Advisory Board have been held at Wellington, at each of which the Association was represented by the secretary', .rho give very' full and lucid reports of the proceedings of conference. The next important question to come before the Advueory Board is in connection with the disposal of surplus funds he;. l , by kindred organisations whose functions have I ceanerl to exist. It is proposed that these funds should be allocated to patriotic societies, and with this object in view, it is desirable that the number of patriotic administering societies should be reduced to about ten. By direction of conference, the Gore Citizens’ Defence Committee have been requested to became absorbed, by the Associa- i

tion and a reply has been received from the committee that the question will be discussed at the annual meeting in November. The Advisory Board is a very valuable organisation or federation of patriotic societies, and the opportunities prvided for mutual interchange of ideas, especially on policy matters, is of great assistance. The Board hopes to see a uniform scheme of administration adopted before long, and though so far there does not appear much possibility of this hope being realised, still the fact remains that in the devising of policy considerable influence is exercised by what is being and proposed to be done by other patriotic societies. BRANCHES.

As the functions of branches as collecting societies have now ceased to exist, it has been deemed advisable to close the branches as such, ami the various bon. secretaries have been notified accordingly. The constitution of the Association allows for representation on the Council or Main Committee. Paragraph 12 under “General Pro visions’’ reads ns follows; -

“Should any district within the area as per clause 2 hereof fail to form a branch, nr a branch in any such district shall cease to exist, the Council may appoint a member of the Council representing another district or some tierson or persons resident in the said district to represent or net ns an Advisory Committee in respect of such district with or without a sent, or sects upon the Council and with such powers as the Council may from time to time determine.” GORE SOLDIERS' CLUB.

A communication was received from the Management Committee of the Gore Sol diers’ Club soliciting financial assistance to make up the loss sustained by fire. The emergency commitlee paid a special visit to Gore to enquire into this matter, and, in conjunction with Mr .John Turnbull, waited on Mr E. R. Bowler, and mutually discussed the whole position. The outcome was that an advance was made to the club of 1300, secured on furnishings. GIFT PARCELS. The disposal of surplus goods held by this section was placed in the capable bands of Mrs D. McKaclane ami Miss 11. Birss. These ladies readily undertook this onerous work, and seven large cases, totalling 021 articles, were carefully grouped and sent where they would be most useful. A letter of thanks was written to Mrs McFarlane and Miss Birss in appreciation of their labour. N.Z. CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION.

A lengthy report of the final meeting of the N.Z. War Contingent Association came to hand during the November quarter. The meeting was held in August and was presided over by Mr I. \V. Raymond, as, owing f.o illness. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, president of the Association, was unavoidably absent. The report gave a clear and interesting account of the Association’s work since its inception in 1914. A concluding paragraph, here quoted, amnly sums up T.lie position; -

i "No idea can be gathered from a brief '.survey of the work of how much tune has [ horn put in. . . . The work our womenfolk j have (lone has born priceless. Jinny of thorn j have returned to thcr homes; others are (shortly followin':. Whatever be their lot I in a f ter life, they ran never forget the 1 stirring period 1011-10. and the part they j Hayed in connection with the Association. ! They certainly gave their best, and in return ! they can rest assured they have all along the line won the admiration and appreciation of their "Warrior” men. VALEDICTORY. Mr R. M. Isaacs, transferred to Christchurch in November last, was tendered a public farewell. It is quite unnecessary here to refer to Mr Isaacs' activity on behalf of the Patriotic Funds, as members of the Association are weil aware of the amount of ( energy and enthusiasm he displayed, especi--1 ally so in connection with the Queen Carnival Fund. A similar function was held to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs E. P. Howard on the eve of their departure to the Old Country. Likewise to Mr S. Craig, on his removing lo Whangarci. Both these latter departures have taken place since the close of the year, but sufficiently early to be included in this report. Many speakers tit each function testified to the personal worth of the guests, and referred with regret to the loss the community was sustaining owing to their departure. OFFICE STAFF. Mr E. W. Newton, who rendered valuable service for some months, left to take up a r, os:tio!i on the Go venimrnt Development Farm at Weraroa. His place m the office has- been tilled by Mr S, Blomfield. Miss Jefcoate. tvpiste. has also left the office since the close of the year, and her place is now held by Miss Fouhy. APPRECIATION. The work of the office has been consideraidy lessened by the valuable assistance ren- , dered at all times by the (lovernrnent De | partmrnts. and thanks are here tendered to the officers in charge of Base Records. Pen ■eons. Rcpatriat’on. War Expenses. Medical : Services. Lands and Survev, Po-4 and Tele graph. Public Trustee. Police. Internal Affairs. War Funds, and Treasury. The stall

also appreciate the kindly heln and courteous attention at all times given by ill*' local officers of these df partments, and of f.hc Returned Soldiers’ Association. To our bon. visitors. Mm S. Cruickshank. Miss Birss, and Ensign Campion, sincere thanks are also due. Their help has been invaluable, and has always been given with a willingness and thoroughness deserving of the greatest commendation. PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES. As in pa.-t years there ins been constant corresponded-e ix-ivu-.'n the Association anil i;Ui‘T patriotic societies. The utmost good, feeling h:v- existed right throughout, an i recommendations from other societies. if within the scope of the policy of the Association, arc invariably given effect to. By reason of its central position, the War Relief Association of Wellington is enabled to get into close touch with th" Government Departments, and much valuable information is obtained thereby, which information is always readily nasued on. When it is noted that 215 applications were received during the year from soldiers whose pre-war domicile was other than Southland, thus necessitating reference to another society, and that 222 applications from Southland soldiers were referred here by northern societies, it is readily understood the large amount, of correspondeni-e involve! in flea'ing with these ces-e--, and the necessity of a mutual understanding as between the committees of the various patriotic, associations. Our nearest neighbour. Otago, has dealt with the greater proportion of cases referred to and from this district, and the best of reciprocity exists between the two offices. ELNANCIAL.

i The statement of account? shows the posi--1 tion of the funds. With reference to some |of the branch returns, it is necessary to I state that the moneys collected from the I various districts towards the copper trail i appeal have not appeared in previous statej ments of the Association, as these moneys were forwarded to the Copper Trail Committee, ami were allocated to the three funds benefit ting thereby. From the Waikaka branch the sum of £230 was paid to the hon. treasurer of the Copper Trail Committee. Several funds were disposed of during the year, the balances held being forwarded to their respective centres through the Minister of Internal Adairs. The funds thus closed were; Belgian Relief, British and Foreign Sailors, National Association of French War Orphans, Prisoners of War, Serbian Relief, Mercantile Marine, British Relief.

The balance sheet shows a credit to the soldiers’ and dependents’ fund of .£51,435 8s Bd, and to the general war iund of £4415 15s Bd. Investments total £54,271, and this with other assets added makes £56,755 15s fid standing to the credit of the Association. The aum of £15,307 Os lOd was paid out during the year in response to claims for financial assistance. The investment. Convalescent Home £3270, may have to be realised shortly, as it is anticipated that I>be Home will be closed about the end of May. This investment will undoubtedly prove a very profitable one.