PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1916, Page 8

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

•THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE. \ ' By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, February 17. At the conference of patriotic societies this afternoon, the motion to exelude the Minister was withdrawn, and the conference asked him to preside, then proceeding to discuss the suggestions made by him. The first was "to define the respective responsibilities of the State and patriotic societies with regard to soldiers within or beyond New Zealand." Several amendments were submitted, the controversy being whether the Government should undertake the responsibility of looking after New Zealandera in Britain. The Mayor of Wellington moved to make it incumbent on the Government to provide for the needs and comforts of sick and wounded soldiers in Britain and overseas from the time of enlistment till their discharge, patriotic societies to bo left to assist in anv form they thought fit. The chairman assured the delegates that tlie Government would provide all necessities for sick and wounded at Home, but not unessential luxuries. Tiie Mayor of Wellington's proposal was adopted. On the motion of Mr. Rodger (Southland) it was decided that the responsibility of restoring the returned soldier and his dependants as nearly as possible ti the condition of life they occupied prior to his joining the forces is the duty of the Government. Two or three dissentients objected to the inclusion of dependents in the motion, On the motion of Mr. D.' McLaren, seconded by Mr. Cyrus Williams, it was decided that the responsibility of providing for the needs of soldiers anil dependants should rest upon tlie State, to be supplemented by patriotic societies in special cases. Delegates stated that they simply asked that the separation allowance be made more adequate to the needs of married men. After further discussion of the Minister's first suggestion, which referred to the State and voluntary action by the committee, a resolution was carried affirming , the necessity for establishing a national federation and organisation to a committee to report at to-morrow's meeting of the conference. Three committees were appointed to deal respectively (1) with the definition of the respective responsibilities of State and patriotic societies: -(21 with the question of federation, and 13) with general relief, investments awl care of institutions. Wellington. Yesterday. At the Patriotic Societies Conference to-day the report,of the committee set up to consider the question of the federation of the New Zealand war relief societies was presented. The objects of the federation are:— To establish a common basis of responsibility in respect of each society as applied to those entitled to relief, to adopt means to prevent the exploitation of the funds, to take Into consideration all matters affecting the administration of funds raised for the benefit of soldiers and dependants. The federation is to be managed by an advisorv board. The report was adopted.