New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 40, 14 September 1916, Page 6

New Zealand

WAR RELIEF. MEETING OF FEDERATED ADVISORY BOARD. Per Press Association. Wellington, September 14. A meeting of the Advisory Board of th« Federation of New Zealand Patriotic War Relief' Societies was held to-day, the Hon. J. T. Paul presidinor. The Defence Minister wrote that he had no power to compel any soldier to make an allotment from his pay i R favour of his dependents at any time, but he had power under the Expeditionary Forces Act to make compulsory deductions for the support of dependents. The Board decided further representations to the Minister. It was reported that the secretary had asked the Minister of , Defence when a man ,was discharged, either from camp or after service from any cause, that information ( should at once lie given to the Patriotic Society in the district of enlistment, and if a pension had been granted cml.M tnu be notified. The Minister replied that the information could be given, but it would be necessary tor the Board to distribute what information was required by the various societies. A list of discharged soldiers would be supplied to the Board monthly, together with a list of pensions issued during the month. A discharge from the camp would be obtained through the camp commandant. The Minister also intimated that band instruments could not be provided by the department.