War Funds Association.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 15, 25 June 1920, Page 14

War Funds Association.

Annual l^eetshg.

The annual meeting oi ihe Southland War Funds Association was held in Victoria Hall last Thursday, the president (Mr H. W. Royds) occupying the chair. There was an attendance of about 30 members. Annual Report. Tlie annual report sta-ted: — In presenting the fourth annual report and statement of accounts, your committee, whilst realising the amount of attention already given to the men who so nobly took a part in the world's great /onfict, and to the dependents of those who have unfortunately fallen, would again impress upon members tlie necessity ot continued interest in the affairs of the Association. Our work involves great responsibility, and must go on withou't any relaxation for many years to A)me. We should all recognise fully the necessity of keeping the Association together for the benefit of those for whom the funds are intended. FUTURE POLICY. The future policy of the Association in so far as disbursement of funds is concerned has given your comrnittee much thought. This partly in consequence of the fact that some Patriotic Societies tfaye adopted permanent schemes for tht relief of disabled soldiers. The question was diseussed at a meeting of the Advisory Bnard in Wellington in March, and the Bo&rd was of opinion that no scheme shotild be put into operation until something cf a uniform character throughout the Dominion could be devised. With this object in view, and with the puxpose also of making proposals of a definite nature to other organisations engaged in patriotic work, a . furiher conference of the Advisory Board will be held in May. In the meantime, your comrnittee are carrying on as hitherto; that is to say, every application is dealt with on its merita. The note appended to the Febroary report of the main comrnittee reads as follows : — "The comrnittee have given con&iderable attention to a proposed scheme for a schsdule of pensions to disabled or partially disabled eoldiers, and to those suffering from a.ny war disability ; also, to the dependents of fallen or disabled soldiers, and have decided that in thie administration of the funds in the best interests of those who are to be benefited, it is better to sheive any definite scheme of this nature for eome years. Sucb a scheme, adopted, would relieve the comrnittee of a good deal of work, as the administration would be of a more or less routine nature, but so long as there are members of the community wiliing to devote time and attention to patriotic duties pertaining to The welfare of soldiers (and dependents of soldiers) the present system of consider ing every cass on its merits should be adhered to." On October 23, 1919, the Minister of Internal Affairs wrote rega-rding the necessity of local control and adniin istr atio'n of patriotic money, and urged provision being made for the almost certain contingency arising as a result of war service, wherehy men suffering from shellshock, nervous ailments, and severe physical injuries will require assistance for a long while to come. In replying to this letter, it was pointed out to the Minister that patriotic societies had special opportunities of observing soldiers in the process of returning to civil life, and though a large proportion of men are resuming their former occupations or taking up fresh avenues of employm nt, without assistance from anyone, the fact must be realised that the remairsg percentage includes men who are in a very bad - way, physically or otherwif , who will require a helping hand for a : ng time to come. Moreover, many who 1 ive been and are being discharged as ( iss A men wrill, unfortunately brealc dc n when put to any severe physical or rnental strain ; this applies principally t ■ those who have been gassed, and thc ;e who have suffered from shell-shock. These men are apparently quite well now, but time alone will tell what is going to occur.

PERMANENTLY AND PARTIALLY DISABLED SOLDIERS. Schemes for the establishment of supplementary pensions to permanently or partially disabled soldiers have been submitted by the South Canterbury Patriotic Society, the Auckland War Relief Association, Taranaki Provincial War Relief Association, the North Otago Soldiers' Aid Association, ihe Ganterbury Patriotic Fund, and the Gisborne Patriotic Society. In all these schemes there is a good deal of similarity ; this matter has received ., a large amount of attention from the ! Comrnittee, of the Southland War Funds Association, and proposals on various lines in the direction of supplementing Government pensions have been worked out. However, in view of the Advisory Board decision, and the fact that in future years greoter need will exist for patriotic unds than at present, it has been deemed expedient to hold over the establishment ot any scheme of supplementary pensions until a wider survey can be taken of the position of our returned men. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. , year just closed has been a particuiarly heavy one so far as claims for assistance are concerned. In all 3123 separapplications have "been under the '

notiee of the comrnittee at,,i u £15,307 0s iOd has been na > will thus be seen that the fi ^ of matenai assistance and l, ^ H justified its existence. No ch\^t % disposed of without f ull etA 38 S "the public of Southland so hberally during the war rJbS,Ubscfil afford a great deal of sSa&N that their contributions have" been t^ great value to our returned N process of resuming civil life 1 relatives and dependents 0f ^ have made the supreme sacrifice 1 Smce the commencement of i 1 tion 5140 claims have been consiL H thi» number 2447 ha?e lC&J once only 54o on two occasions. fij times, 105 four times, 51 five timefoh times, 9 seven times, 11 ei»ht ti 1 nine times, 1 thirteen times °and times. ' M 1 The following shows how apnlw; ] were dealt with in 1919-20, the resr A totals being given in parenthehT nl clined 140 (195), by S.W.F.A. fo ' J societies 216 (304), by other societk!i S.W.F.A. 222 (401), 'refernd StJ TAg (2mfmenis 60 (173U-liH Eight grants have been of suim |J than £1, and fifty-two grants haVe y; over £10. With the exception of ' for mufti allowance there is a wide rano» of difference in the applications f«rtog ance. Some of these cases i% ^ quoted for the information of of the Association were it not forth>uf that every care must be taken 'to s4 guard the confidential statements of ati cants. In addition to dealing with claims M financial assistance from the patriol fund, the offiee facilities are always aij able to returned men, and the vali| knowledge that has been acquired fu time to time has proved of great use assisting men with regard to pensi: claims and other allowances. Jn {j connection it should be noted tiat H greatest help is afforded at all times froi the local offiee of the Lands Departmeal Pensions Offiee, Repatriation Departraent and the Returned Soldiers* Association. MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the EmewJ Comrnittee have been held twice wa# also monthly meetings of the MaintnS mittee, whilst all questions of policy aln the general business of the AssociaW have been considered at the quarteiifl meetings of the Council. In addition to this, the secretary has made almost dai!y:: calls on members of the Emergency Comrnittee for settlement of questions requiring immediate attention. Considerablo aid has been given by country representa-" tives in all matters referr ed to them.

ADYISORY BOARD. Two meetings of the Advisory Board have been held at Wellington, at each of ; which the Association was represented by the secretary., who gave very full and . lucid reports of the proceedings of conM ence. ' The next important question ti . | come before the Advisory Board is in connection with the disposal of surplus funds i held by kindred organisations whose fnnc- j tions have ceased to exist. It is proposed I that" these funds should be allocated to I patriotic societies, and with this object ii | view it is desirablo that the number «J patriotic adminisriiing societies should H reduced to about ten. By d«; | tion of conference, the Gore Citzens' Defence Comrnittee have been re- j quested to become absorbed by the Association and a. reply has been received roml the comrnittee that the question w W diseussed at the annual meeting ffl -'a' j vember. The Advisory Board ie a M valuable organisation or federation o a patriotic societies, and the opportum j provided for mutual interchange of w i • especially on policy matters, is of g1® assistance. The Board hopes t° see w uniform scheme of admimstration aaop | before long. and though so far th®« , not appear much possibility of tui r . being realised, still the fact r®®aln J m the devdsing of policy con^^ J fluence ls.exercised by what is berng ■ proposed to be done by other patno i I cieties. BRANCHES.

As the f unctions of branches as ing societies have now _ ceased w e >M has been deemed advisable to c o ■ branches as such, and the varl% -Jfl secretaries. have been notified ac?°. ^ The constitution of the Associa ■ lows for representa ti-on on the co Main Comrnittee. Paragraph "General Provisions" reads as 1 ^ "Should any district with'-n the a | per clau-se 2 hereof fa.il to forni or a branch in any such dis " p0iiit-| cease to exist, the Council may aj..j a member of the Council rePres ., other district or some _ person reserf 1 resident in the said district t° T re. or act as an Advisory ■ spect of such district with , seat or seats upon the_Coun - fw® I such powers as the Council . I time to time determine. GORE SOLDIERS' cLtJB"' J rftceived 'r0® 1 A communication was Go19 1 the Management Comrnittee > o j ^-i Soldiers* Club sohcitmg ^ I ance to make up ihe lo^ ^e p3id fire. The emergency couunr^ ^ g 1 special visit to Gore to ^ jfr J°^ , matter, and, in conjunction \ j

Turnbull waited on Mr E. R. Bowler, and mutaally discussed the whole position. The outcome was that an advance was made to the club of £300, secured on furnishings. GIFT PARCELS. The disposal of eurplus goods held by this se"*:on was placed in the capable hands of Mrs D. McFarlane and Miss H. Birss. These ladies readily undertook this onerous work, and seven large cases totalling 921 articles, were carefully grouped and sent where they wonld be most nseful. A letter of thanks was written to Mrs McFarlaiie and Miss Birss - in appreciation of their labour. N.Z. CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION. A lengthy report of the final meeting of the N.Z. War Contingent Association came to hand during the November quarter. The meeting was held in August, and was presided over by Mr I. W. Raymond, as, owing to ilhiess, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, president of the Association, was imavoidably absent. The report gave a clear and interesting account of the Association's work since its inception in 1914. A concluding paragraph, here quoted, amply srnns up the position : — "No idea can be gathered from a brief. survey of the work of how much time has been put in. . . . The work our womenfolk have done has been prieeless. Many of them have returned to their homes; others are shortly following. Whatever be their lot in after life, they can never forget the stirring period 1914-19, and the part they played in connection with the Association. They certainly gave their best, and in return they can rest- assured they have all along the line won the admiration and appreciation of their "Warrior" men. APPRECIATION. The work of the office has been considerably lessened by the valuable assistance rendered at all times by the Government Departments, and thanks are here tendered to the officers in charge of Base Expenses, Medical Services, Lands and Survey, Post and Telegraph, Public Trustee, Police, Internal Affairs, War Funds, and Treasury. The staff also appreciate ihe kindly help and courteous attention at all times given by the local officers of these departments, and of the Returned Soldiers' Association. To our hon. visitors, Mrs S. Cruickshank, Miss Birss, and Ensign Campion, sincere thanks are also due. Their help has been invaluable, and has always been given with a willingness and thoroughness deserving of the greatest commendation. PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES. As in past years, there has been constant correspondence between the Association and other patriotic societies. The utmost good feeling has existed right throughout, and recommenaations from j other societies, if within the scope of the policy of the Association, are invariably given effect to. By reason of its central position, the War Relief Association of Wellington is enabled to get into close touch with the Government Departments, *nd much valuable information is obtained thereby, which information ' is always readily passed on. When it is noted that 216 applications were received during the year from soldiers whose pre-war domicile was other than Southland, thus necessitating reference to another society, and that 222 applications from Southland soldiers were referred here by northern societies, it is readily understood the large amount of correspondence involved in dealing with these cases, and the neces- ' sity of a mutual understanding as between the committees of the various patriotic associations. Our nearest neighbour, Otago, has dealt with the greater proportion of cases referred to and from this district the best af reciprocity exists between the two offices. FINANCIAL. The statement of accounts shows the position of the funds. With reference to some of the branch retnrns, it is necessary to state that the moneys colleeted from the various districts towards the copper trail appeal have not appeared in previous statements of the Association, as these moneys were forwarded to the Copper Trail Committee, and were allocated to the three iunds benefiting thereby. From the Waikaka branch the sum of £230 was paid to the hon. treasurer of the Copper Trail Committee. Several funds were disposed of during the year, the balance held being forwarded to their respective centres through the Minister of Internal Affairs. The funds thus closed were : Beigian Relief, British and Foreign Sailors, National Association of French War Orplians, Prisoners of War, Serbian Relief, Mercantile Marine, British Relief. The balance sheet shows a credit to the soldiers and dependents' fund of £51,435 8s 8d, and to Ihe general war fund oi £4415 15s 8d. Investments total £54,271, and this with other assets added makes £56,755 15s 6d standing to t.he credit of the Association. The sum of £15,307 Os 10d was paid out during the year in response to claims for financial assistance. The investment, Convalescent Home £3270, may have to be realised shortly, as it is anticipated that the Home. will be closed about the end oi May. This investment will undoubtedly prove a very "profitnble one. CONCLUSION. In concluding this report the committe'e can without egotism say that every possible attention has been given to the affairs of the Association during the past year, that all applications for assistance have been carefully considered and met according to the policy of the Association, and a general feeling of confidence appears to be established in the administration. It is quite clear that the committee's duties and activities are far from finished, and that the greatest possible care and sympathetic consideratiou will

be needed for years to come in order that the patriotic funds of Southland shaJl confer the greatest amount of benefit on those for whom the money was so generously subscribed Committee work has been strenuous at all times, and particularly so during the year just ended, no less than 3123 separate claims having been dealt with. With the slackening off of numbers during the last quarter there has been a corresponding increase of cases of a complicated nature. The work is fully compensated for by the large number of letters of appreciation received and the knowledge that many have been enabled to make good owing to ihe assistance forthcoming from the Association. Chairman's Remarks. In formally moving the adoption of the report, the President said : In presenting for your consideration the fourth annual report and statement of accounts of the Southland War Funds Association I wish to express the satisfaction that I am sure must be felt by all our members at the conclusion of another year's beneficial work. On the dishandment of the. New Zealand Expeditionary Forces which took place since our last meeting practically every returned soldier has been repatriated. Most of the branches of this Association have ceased to exist and it is certainly a matter for thankfulness that their continuance is no longer necessary. The work carried out by these branches will long be remembered. It provided a striking example of united thought and action for the welfare of the State. The well-being of those members who undertook the duties of military service was the one main object of a large section of the community and this found expression in the various activities of the uumerous branches of this Association throughout the whole district. I wish to finally place on record the very high appreciation that is felt for the work that was done. During the past twelve months a great deal of consideration has been given to the question of uniformity of administration of patriotic funds throughout the Dominion, but no very definite conclusions have been arrived at beyond the idea we have always held in Southland that the . best results are achieved by a policy of sympathetic treatment of each case on its merits. This, of course, invoLves more time and work, but so long as our councillors and committeemen are willing to continue their work on the same basis as in the past, I feel that we are pursuing the best course jn the interests of those uonce'rned. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Advisory Board's recommendation is to defer any definite scheme of permaneht payments until a further effort is made towards uniformity. From the cases coming before the committee. it is obvious that soldiers who have been b-ack in civil occupations for some years are in some instances only now finding it necessary to receive assistance from .the funds owing to incapacities caused by war service and it is of the utmost importance that this Association should maintain a position that enables prompt aid to be forthcoming in all such cases. Aid to well men is being attended to by the State departments responsible for such work, and is in the main apparently satisfactory. The Returned Soldiers' Assoi ciation is exercising watchful care.over the requirements of its members, with special attention to any anomalies that may ai'ise in departmental administration. Our financial position is. still thoroughly satisfactory. The out payments during the year from the Soldiers' and-Depend-ants' Fund tbtalled £15,307, which, of course, means that riot only is our fund reduced by that amount, but our annual income from interest is about £700 less because of this expenditure. From the General War Fund our expenditure has been £1028, which includes costs of administration of all funds and the years' work. Our income has been £2,803 from interest earned and £938 from donations received. It is anticipated that there will be a shrinkage from both these sources during the coming year, as donations have practically ceased and interest is a diminishing quantity. for reasons already stated. Our investments now stand as follows: — - N.Z Government (Public Trustee), £11,000 'at call ; Invercargill Corporation debentures.— £10,000 due "Jnlv, 1921 ; £10,000 due July, 1926; £10,000 due July, 1931; £10,000 due July, 1936. The public Trust investment is earmng interest at 4^ per cent. per annum and the Corporation debentures 5 per cent. per annum. From these figures it will be seeu that ample funds are available for all anticipated requirements, ev.en at_ short notice. In addition we have an investment of £3270 in the Convalescent Home. These figures, I hope, will be instructive to the casual newspaper correspondent who, while not sufficiently interested m the affairs of the Association to get the information from our 'office, wants to know what has become of the funds, and so forth. The published statement of accounts provides all the details surrounding these figures. Our office continues to carry out valuable work. A part -from the cases that actually come be'fore your committees, our secretary u-ndertakes on behalf oi soldiers and their dependents a considerable amount of enquiry and correspondence with the various public departments, or, in fact,. with any person or institution if such is desired and isN likely to be oi benefit to those concerned. A word of commendation is due to_oui painstaking and competent secretary, whc has carried out his work most systematically and efficiently. No member of oui Association is more concerned about the proper care of_our soldiers and dependents than Mr Farrant, who is most assiduous in attending to his duties at all times. In this he has been ably assisted by the office staff. Speaking generally, the needs and re quirements of our returned men are being well looked after throughout this pro

vince. If anyone knows of any case that does not appear to be receiving proper attention it is the desire of this organisation that immediate notification should be sent to the secretary or nearest War Funds' representative, when prompt action will be taken, thus ensuring the protection for which our funds were raised. It is satisfactory to know that the work is proving of benefit to many who are at times temporarily in necessitous circumstances. The numerous letters from those whom the Association has been able ,to serve are much appreciated. In conclusion, I desire to record the very satisfactory attendance that has been mai'ntained at all meetings during the year. Mernbers show no disposition to relax their efforts in carrying out the work of the Association, and continue_ to take the keenest interest in the well-being of our soldier citizens and the dependents. The President then briefly scanned the report, and made reference to the recent criticism through the local press of the discontinuance of the supply of cigarettes and tobaccQ to soldiers in hospital by the Association. He said it had never been the intention or desire of the Association to withdraw such comforts from the men. ' The only question involved was who .were entitled to the cigarette and tobacco issue, upon which, they wonld notice, £204 had been spent during the year. A returned soldier, after having been repatriated. and resumed civil employment, was to all intents and purposes a civilian. If, in the course of such employment, he met with an accident that n,ecessitated his going to hospital, was he to be there treated as a civilian or regarded as a returned soldier, and as such entitled to certain privileges? The Committee was of the opinion that he was a civilian, otherwise the Association would be faced with expense, such as tobacco issue, for many years to come. He thought it desirable to make such an explanation, and also mentioned that the expenditure on cigarettes and tobacco for returned sOddiers in hospital was now being borne by the Red Cross Society, whoss funds had to be spent on soldiers' comforts. That was a better arrangement, as it left the funds of the Association to be expended in other and more useful directions. Referring to the Convalescent Home, Mr Royds said that it was satisfactory that there was no necessity for the maintenance of the Home. Of course there were some people who considered that the Home should be kept in case.of emergency, but until the Red Cross Society came to some definite conclusion in the matter, no action would be taken. When the Red Cross Society had finished with the Home, it would become the Association's property. When it would be the committee's duty | to realise on Ihe property to the best ad- ! vantage and credit the funds with the proceeds, from which the donation was given in, the first place,. Mr John Stead (Mayor) seconded the motion. He endorsed the chairman's remarks concerning the supply of cigarettes, etc.,- to soldiers. Mr Stead, however, mentioned the case of a soldier whose wouhds, for example, migbt compel him to change his civil occupation. If, at his new work, he met with an accident, and had -to go to hospital for treatment, he asked should he not be. regarded »s a returned soldier ? His war injuries woiild, be. the indirect cause of his meeting with an accident. Mr d. Cuthbertsori mentioned that the Red Cross Society supplied tobacco to men in hospital suffering from war disai bilities only. Regarding the Convalescent Home, a meeting to discuss the question as to whether or. not it should be carried on was to be held_ on July 3. The motion was carried. Election of Officers.

Following were elected office-bearers for the ensuing term : Mr H. W. Royds (unanimously re-elected). Vice-Presi-dent : Mr John McDougall. A meeting of the Council was then held, and the last year s committee reelected. Mr C. Bennetts, Gore, mentioned that the Manawatu Association was proposing to distribute its funds, and bring about a termination of "their activities. He considered that an emphatic protest against such action should be sent to the Minister for Internal Affairs. Mr J. Gilkison suggested that the protest wpuld be better sent to the Advisory Board. which would then doubtless take action in the matter. It was decided to adopt the latter course, and also that the Manawatu Association be written to asking them to state their reasons for their proposed action. A vote of appreciation of the work of the Emergency Committee, and a vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.