TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1919, Page 7

TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Tarauaki War Relief Association was held on Wednesday. Present: Messrs W. P. Kirkwood (chairman), Percival, Washer, Mills, Criehton (R.S.A.), Tosiand, Atkinson, Dunn, Larcomhe, C. E. Bellringcr, and T. 18. Crump. The secretary's report was read as follows: Bank balance as at 10th inst £2933 7s 4d; P.O.S.A. balance as at 10th inst. £lll3 138 4d; receipts acknowledged from September 10 to-October 6, £4850 4s 6d; relief granted soldiers and dependents by the association as at September 30, 1919, £1431 13s 3d; local branches as by imprest account, £4839 14s 7d; total £6271 7s 10d; subscriptions received, £126 13s Id; transfers from other societies, £922 14s 7d; interest received, £3of. 2s 8d; total £1355 10s 4d; funds as at July 1, £46,2-15 14s lOd; funds as at -September 30. £41,176 15s 2d. To this amount is to be added the sum of £3OOO bemg the amount of deposit with Hawera Borough Council, not yet transferred by Hawera Society, also accrued interest on War Loan Certifiqates. which amounts to £l3O ss, as at March 31. Applications for grants were received as follows:—County of Egmont 0, Stratford 11, Hawerj 5. New Plymouth 3, North Taranaki 5, Patea 1. The question of the appointment of medical examining officers was discussed at length, and it was ultimately decided that; a board of two doctors be appointed in each centre to examine np» plicants for grants to permanently disabled men. A motion that the hoard consist of one doctor in each centre and one doctor who should sit on every board was defeated. The following were nominated as medical examining officers: Stratford, Drsi Steven and Gordon; Hawera, Drs. Bnist and Thomson; New Plymouth, Drs. Walker and Wade; Waitara, Dr. Campbell; Eltham, Drs. Lepper an.l Boyd; Patea, Dr. Simmons was the only one nominated, but an endeavor will be made to arrange for another doctor. Opunake, Dr. Watt to be asked to sit and Dr. Boyd will probably co-operate with him. i The following committees made application for allowances for permanently disabled men: Two for 70 per cent, one of 50 per cent, one of 75 per cent, and one. of 80 per cent. Patea, one of 85 per cent: Inglewood, two of 75 per cent, one of 50 per cent, one of 80 per cent, one of 76 per cent, and one of SO per cent. Each recommendation received approval of the association. Mr Tosland said that beflora payment was niiuln every man should go ,hefore medical men for a thorough' examination with a view of eliminating any doubt that he received his utmost share of compensation. For instance a man might have lost an eye or a-leg, and through such injuries serious complications may arise later on. In such cases an allowance only be made for the loss of a limb and allowed Bay. 50 per cent., whereas he should probably re&eive 80 per cent. The chairman (Mr KirKwood) assured the speaker that every soldier would be thoroughly examined by a medical board and receive the utmost consideration, A letter was received from the Tipper Mangorei Patrioitc Committee giving details of two cases of permanently disabled soldiers. Mr Bellringer said that for some reason or other the 'Mangorei committee thought proper to ignore the New Plymouth committee, and the letter suggested that the New Plymouth committee was neglecting the men mentioned. As a matter of fact he had inst recently visited the district. He thought that the 'Upper Mangorei committee took the action it, did in order to stress the importance of Upper Mangorei. (Laughter.) It was decided to ask the committee to 'send its information through the New Plvmouth Committee.