TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1919, Page 5

TARANAKI WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki War Relief Association was held at Stratford yesterday. Those present were:—Messrs. Kirkwood (chairman), Bellringer, Stevenson, Patterson, Washer, Tossland, Larkin, Percival, and Young. In welcoming Mr. E. H. Young, the RetVirned Soldiers' representative, the chairman said that there had been too many changes in the past, and he hoped that they would, be able to have Mr. Young's assistance for a lengthy period. Mr. Young, in thanking Mr. Kirkwood, said he had been struck with tlie capable manner in which the executive had administered the funds of the Association, and with the sympathy shown to returned soldiers, who owed Mr. Kirkwood and the executive a deep debt of gratitude. The secretary was instructed to write to the New Plymouth and County of Egmont Committees with a view to having the boundary between the two districts mutually agreed upon. The question of an account for £1 19s 4d expended by the Wellington Association, the amount being in excess of the grant authorised, was considered. The chairman pointed out that When their own executive had exceeded authority they had been held up when it came to a question of repayment. It was agreed that the amount be paid, and that the Wellington Association be informed that authority given for future grants mrst not be exceeded. A letter was received from the Auckland Association, refusing to refund an amount granted by the Pntea Committee.—Received. An applicant (a fit man) for n grant for furniture was . referred to the 'Repatriation Board. In making a grant of £2 3s 4d to a man in Canterbury, it was decided to point out to the Canterbury Association that, as the injuries to the eye, from which the man was suffering, had been received in Egypt, the military authorities should be responsible. A grant of £2O was made to the widow of a soldier, who had died since marriage, to pay debts incurred during the illness of the soldier, and in connection with his death.

In dealing with a permanently disabled ease, the chairman said that with claims of this kind tho whole of the circumstances would be reviewed, and any grants previously given would be taken into consideration. It seemed to him thfft when, as he believed was the case under discussion, a grant had been made because the man was disabled, the amount should bo deducted from any sum now granted him as u permanently disabled man. Mr. Stevenson agreed, and said that if past: grants were not taken into consideration they would be simply penalising the man who had been too modest to ask for a grant previously. This man had received £SO already, and under their scale of allowances to permanently disabled men, was entitled to £125, which, with the other £SO, would give him £175. Was the executive prepared to deal with every ease on the same basis? He did not see that they could. The chairman said that, in the application forms, claimants were required to state what previous assistance over £lO had been received from the Association, so that it could be considered ia fixing the amount of the grant, though a reduction would not necessarily be made. It was decided, in the case before the executive, to deduct from the £125 al-* lowed by the scale the £SO already granted. Mr, Percival stated that the Inglewood Patriotic Committee held a small general fund. What was their position? Had they to pay it over to the Association! The chairman said he thought they could retain this general fund is' they pleased, or they could pay it over to tho Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. Sneii a fund could be held as long as there was a proper purpose for which it could be used. The delegates should see, where ■there were general local funds, that instead of going to other purposes they are paid over to the Sick and Wounded Fund when the committees are disbanded. The chariman. said that £2OO had been paid in Wellington to a permanently disabled soldier, and the Welling!on Association was quite in a panic about it. They thought it an awful thing to give a man £2OO at once, but the executive had decided that unless there were special reasons for a weekly payment, the money would be paid in one sum. The chairman reported that arrangements had been made for doctors to examine applicants for the allowance to, permanently disabled men in the different districts. The secretary reported that the bank balance on the 21st instant was £1540 10s 2d, and the Post Office account balance on the same date was £lll3 lGs 7d. The receipts since last meeting totalled