TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1919, Page 3

TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

■ MONTHLY MEETING. , I The Taran&ki War Relief Associativa met ttt Stratford yeitarday, Present:i Messrs W P. Kirkvrood (Stratford* in. the chair, C. E. Bellringer (New Plymouth), W. Larcomb (Patea) R. JMcNeill (Egmont), F. W Atkinson (North Taranaki) H. Mills (Hawerai. Messrs Washer (Farmers' Union), Crump (JSlthmo), Percival (Inglevruod), Spratt (Returned Soldiers' Association), and Stevenson (Manaii.) forwarded apologies for noti-attendance.

The Putea delegate reviewed the case of a soldier who desired further relief The man was receiving a small wage, but desired assistance to take up a small farm.—After a full discussion, it was resolved to giant £1 for six months.

A communication was received from two soldiers stating that they had several head, of sock on their farm and sold some in the cattle yards, but found they could not collect on same as cash for all stock had to be paid to the War Association. Applicants stated they were bound hand and foot and would never have a chance of making good under present conditions, it being impossible to cuft the herd and it barred from fattening. They hoped to increase the hard next season, bo there was no danger of lessening the security. Further, it was pointed out fchoy had a fixed rate of interest and repayments, and should be allowed a little latitude.

A second letter from another soldier, who had received loans, stated his intention 6l going in for dairying instead of sheep. He did not intend making the change at once, but desired permission to do so.

Delegates recognised in these instances tlie applicants' security was as good as ever, and allowed the requests.

"There is a ciise that demands attention," a delegate remarked when bringing up another matter. "A soldier relume and gets along very well. He marriss, but before getting a home of his own liv« 3 with his wife's parents. The opidamio cornea along, and both parties contract the influenza, the husband dying and the wife being- considerably shaken in health. He point 3 out that previously the wife's health had not been satisfactory, but, having been married to a returned soldier, believes she is entitled to soma consideration from the association, seeing that her state of health made her dependent on others. ITi.s committee had made a grant of £5, and lie thought the association should also do something. Her husband was" beginning to find his feet, but. the epidemic ltttd removed liirn and left the widow requiring rest for a full four months.

Delegates were all sympathetic, and passed a grant of £1 per week for four months.

A lengthy letter was received from the mother of a scholar in a university school. The pupil, whose father was a soldier In the Expeditionary Forces, had won a Taranaki Scholarship, but the value of same was not adequate to meet travailing and incidental expenses as well 5i 9 board. The mother desired the association to render assistance to enable the pupil to finish the third year of training. She had made unsuccessful efforts to obtain the sympathy of the Minister for Education in the matter. Further, she was holding a position that was a war position, and may cause her retirement now the war was over

Members recognised the position was a delicate one. The £(i!) scholarship was evidently inadequate to meet all requirements, but it was hardly a case for the association. However, it was decided to write the Minister for Education, to see if it was not possible to make provision for these particular cases. Three applications were received for the association's bursary or scholarships. One was accepted, and the two others held over for further information.

Regarding next-of-kin, one of the memb«f£B stated he had received a letter from a gentleman in Britain whose son had enlisted in New Zealand, made tho writer his next-of-kin, and then lost his life in January, 1913. His father desired information as to what procedure to take regarding bii-ck-pay, etc., of his deceased 'son. —The secretary intimated that inquirieo should be made of the Deceased Soldiers' Department, which would probably have the reeords and other information Mr. McNeill stated he desired to draw attention to a grievance. A soldier landing at Wellington was granted a return ticket to Auckland. After visiting the latter town, he took the boat to New Plymouth, and on joining the train had to pay full fare The ticket apparently only permitted him to travel via the Main Trunk line. He thougiit it rather a hardship that a soldier who had been away three years or more and who desired to see friends or relatives in i'ew Plymouth should have to pay railway fare. —The question was voted outaide the association's sphere, and no action was taken.

A grant of £1 per week was made by the association, to be continued indetinitely, ill the following ease:—A soldier, after two unsuccessful attempts at enlistment, married, and then was passed under the Military Service Act, and tuid IS months away, being tLen discharged owing to lung troubles. Although his .health was ruined, his pension was stopped, the reason given bei..g thai this jvas due to a pre-war disability. The delegate urging the case disbelieved the view, saying his complaint had been greatly aggravated by the war service. Before closing the meeting, Mr Kirkwood said lie regretted the meetijj&was not a full one, as he wished to j a full discussion on the general policy of the association The war was over, and they would have to go into the matter. They had discontinued the granting of loans whilst the war vas on, pending an increase in ihe funds, and now thought they should be discontinued entirely, and money used in the direction of supplementing pensions and straight-out grants. He believed they would iind all *hc New Zealand soldiers home during the year Mr Bellringer concurred with the chairman about the advisability of the discussion, but thought a notice of motion should be given and the various patriotic committees would discuss the matter before the delegates again assembled.

In reply to Mr. Atkinson, U:.e chairman Btated liis motion would suggest the discontinuance of loans and the adoption of a policy of straight-out grants. Mr. Atkinson suggested a statement of the association's total funds, number of men returned, and the number of men erpected to return, to serve as a guide to the committee.

The chairman said the information would be available, and the matter dropped.

"Previous to the war," remarked aj delegate appealing for support, "this man > flKodwd m a canvasser androde .round the

county on a motor-evcle, but his nerves liad been so shattered as the result of his experiences at the front tliat he could not ride a cycle now, and desired a grant of £25 to assist in the purchase of a motorcar to undertake similar work. —Amount granted.