SOUTHLAND WAR FUNDS ASSOCIATION.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 24, 27 August 1920, Page 14

SOUTHLAND WAR FUNDS ASSOCIATION.

The monthly meeting of tiro Main Committoe, held on Thorsday, was attended by Messrs M. Thompson, H. W. Royds J. Gilkison (Invercargill), A. McKenzie (Otahuti), D. McDonald (Centre Bush), J. S. A. McDougall (Bluff), C. Bennet (Gore), H. E. Niven (Edendale!, K. G. McKenzie (Fortrose]. The secrorary presenfced a lengthy detailed report of the Advisory Board meeting held in Wellington on the 12th August. The first part of the delegates' report dea-lt with the appeal on behalf of blinded soldiers by Mr Clutha Mackenzie, who requested the Patriotic Societies to contribute towards the_ establishment of a capital fund of £20,000, which would provide an annual income of £1200 for the follow.ing purposes Reunion expenses £100, travelling £100, office £75, siek and maternity grants £100, educational assistance £100, Braile typewriter, repaii's, etc., £25, circulars, cards, and games £25, tools and renewals £75, subsidies for poultry and bee faimers £600. Mr Mackenzie appeared personally before the Board in support of the proposals. He was of opinion that a separate administering society should be formed in order to give effect to the propositions on behalf of the blind soidiers, and was supported in this opinion Sir Arthur Pearson, who had carried on invaluable work at St. Dunstan's, S.ir Arthur being a blind man himself, and thus being qualified to work for those similariy afflicted. The New Zealand Commercial Travellers' Association was doing good work for the blind soldiers, but the funds of the Association were totally inadequate for the purpose. There were twenty-four blind soldiers in New Zealand. Mr Mackenzie stated that he had at different times been ini^iersonal touch with these men, and understood their requirements. He detailed at length occupations that were suitable for the men, stating that massage was the best from a financial point of view, as in some cases up to £.10 per week could be earned, but poultry farming, although not so remunerative, was one that could be fostered. Mr Farrant was of opinion that, seeing and hea-t,ing Mr Mackenzie, caused the delegates' sympathies to over come their discretion. Mr E. H. Williams (Hawke's Bay) moved in full support of the proposal. This motion did not find a seconder, the delegates from Christchurch and Southland being in f avour of making an annual grant instead of establishing a separate fund.

Eventually it was decided to recomme-nd the Patriotic Societies to contribute towards a capital fund of £10,000. This amount would provide an annual income of £600, and it. was considered that this income would be sufficient, allowing for the deletion of the item (£600), subsidies for bee and poultry farmers. The Southland Association is assessed at £588. A memorandum from the Minister of Intemal Affairs was received at the meeting disapproving of the establishment of a separate fund. It would therefore be necessary, should the Patriotic Societies agree to the fund, to get speeial legislation on the matter. The next important item considered by the Advisory Board was the establishment of a basis of uniform administration of patriotic fu: is. Mr L. 0. H. Tripp (chairman) had n large amount of iriiormation available, a 1 it was shown that at the present ra • of expenditure some of the societies' f ds would be depleted in two years. On he other hand, a very large sum of mo y was held by organisations whose funct. iiis as war relief administering societies had ceased to exist, and it was desirable that these moneys should be handed over to the Patriotic Societies. With this end in view, Mr Tripp explained tnat it would be necessary for the Advisory Board to arrive at a unanimous decision regarding a uniform method of administration, after which a conference could be arranged betwoen the different societies and organisations interested, in conjunction with the War Funds Office, and he was confident 1 hat such conference would realise wha-t was in the minds of the delegates. ^ Mr Tripp eulogised the work of Mr George Davies and staff of the War Funds Office; he was aware that Mr Davies had been instrumental in conserviug certain funus for the benefit of soldiers, and his endeavours were fully appreciated, also those of his capable staff. The chairman s eulogy was reoeived with applause, and fully endorsecL The hon. seeretary of the Advisory Board (Mr R. W. Shallcrass) was voted an honorarium of 100 guineas in recognition of his splendid and highly efficient services during the past four years. At the conclusion of the conference Mr J. J. Dougall (Christchurch) moved a very beavty vote

oi thanka to lhe ctai warm and well-deservtvl t Paid . Tripp for the painstaking andwtention he had given to ^ Advisory Board, and ah ^ th, ing to the welfaxe of the ^ 5>6n% pendants. Mr DougaU's niotion5 ^ ^ onded by Mr Farrant, and aft^% spoken to by every delegatQ' ^ S by acclamation. ' Remits before the Board iaclufltJ from Taranaki, askincr r to establish a home in each shell-shock and irresponsible solffie fof was pointed out that such prov ready existed, and the remit Was " a/' quently withdrawn. A remit ea® J ward in the form of a resolution f J H R.S.A. Conference to the effect triotic societies wer.e supplemeritinat ^ inadequate pensions paid to disablj , diers, and thereby relieving the G • ment of its responsibility ; the BoaJ^ cided to ask the Government to^ ^ the scale of pensions to meet the ed cost of livdng. The Returned Soldy Association was also itlanked for dra^ attention to the matter. Another remit was in oppositdon to m ing cash grants to disabled soldiers l cording to the schedule of Pensions. remit was from the R.S.A., and met with approval, the societies so doing to asked to treat everv case on its merits han ing due regard to the economic loss o! the soldier. A remit from the Wellington War Relief Association recomniending societies to adopt a sclieme wherehy they will help each other was referr ed to a Conferenoe to be called Uer, likewisa a remit from Southland favoming theev: fablishmeiit of a national fund od, oi surplus funds held by organisations vhosj functions had ceased to exist. The Southland delegate was oi opinion that the Advisory Board meeting was the most satisfactory one he had yet tended. He was quite satisfied that ti the delegates were thoroughly imbued w;ith the right spirit, and that much good would result from the means providej for an interchange of ideas. On the motion of Mr H. E. Niven, sm! onded by Mr C. Bennet, a hearty voted thanks was passed to Mr Farrant for hi report. — The report was also received an adopted.