The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1919. HELPING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1919. HELPING RETURNED SOLDIERS.

The profound desire on the part of the people of the Dominion to do all in their power by way of assistance towards helping'the returned soldiers and their depend ents not only to overcome temporary financial embarrassment, but also to enable them to embark on a career best suited to their capabilities, is as as great now as it was during the height of the war. The only difference now is the problem of what is the best course to pursue, and it is far more difficult to solve. The report of the proceedings of the annual meeting of the Taranaki "War Relief Association, held at Stratford on Wednesday last, shows clearly that the work of these patriotic bodies has entered upon a new phase, and that the framing of a future policy will need careful and intelligent consideration. It may fairly be claimed that the past work of this association has been carried out with most praiseworthy sympathy and exemplary thoroughness, creditable alike to the hearts and administrative ability of the delegates to whom the important work of administering the large funds subscribed by the public was entrusted. Apart from the special sums voted for the use of soldiers abroad through the medium of other organisations, loans to help soldiers going on the land were voted to the amount of £IB,OOO, including

outstanding balances of loans previously granted, while others have been assisted in businesses, also in acquiring houses and furniture, besides which seventy emergency cases were dealt with, over £3OOO being utilised in responding to applications for relief made to the association and its branches. Since its inception the Association has gathered in over £54,000, while on March 31 last the fund, including loans, stood at £53,498. There can be no question as to the good work of the past. "What of the future? The establishment of the Repatriation Committee and the power given to land boards to grant assistance materially alters the scope of the association. The outstanding features of the situation now are the necessity to prevent overlapping and the possibility of the Government seizing the funds raised for the relief of soldiers and their dependents. A careful perusal of the remarks made at the meeting will give a very good indication of the problems facing'the executive. It will be noticed that the question of making straight out grants instead of loans was mentioned as being a matter whereon a definite pronouncement should be made so that returned soldiers should know how they stood. The chairman (Mr Kirkwood) strongly advocated straight out grants, emphasising, however, that the future policy would have to be more liberal than in the past and that he desired to extend rather than curtail assistance. The discussion which took place on this subject fairly covered the whole ground, but eventually left the matter unsettled, a proposal to make loans up to £IOO being withdrawn. There is need for the greatest caution on the part of the Association not to give, the Government the slightest excuse for laying its hands on the money subscribed by the public. The funds in hand permit of a liberal policy being carried out, but the adoption of a course that would bring the work of the Asso ciation to a close in a limited number of years by making large grants that might turn to the undoing of returned men would be deplorable, besides creating grave dissatisfaction in the cae-s where a refusal was given. It is obvious that in the future there will be many applications from men who have broken down through physical defects arising out of their wai services, and there can be no question that the subscribers to the relief fund rely i upon the association to bear these cases in mind. There can be only one satisfactory policy, and that is tt) consider every case on its merits, guard against exploitation, and be guided by those principles which are most likely to prove beneficial to the returned soldiers and their dependents. The object should be to render aid in all cases of need, irrespective of what Government departments ara doing care being exercised to guard against overlapping. It appears probable that the services of the war relief associations will be required for. many years yet. Tae parting of the ways has been reached, and while ccngratula + - ing the delegates on their past administration and the chairman especially on the splendid services he has rendered, we venturs to emphasise the need, for the re alisation of the demands of the future. The Association is not expected to afford assistance and perform work that properly come iwithin the province of the State; jits particular, duty is to render

help in special cases outside the scope of the departments, and to give it with no niggardly hand. It must he recognised that the task before the Association is no light or easy one, and it has oc curred to us that only good could come from a conference with the Returned Soldiers' Association and representatives from the various Taranaki Repatriation Committees.