ASSISTING SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 10

ASSISTING SOLDIERS.

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

INCREASE nr THE CLAIMS.

B FUND NEARLY EXHAUSTED.

. Conservation of funds for the benefit of sick and disabled returned soldiers was the main note of the discussions at Yesterday's meeting of the executive committee of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association. Sir James Gunson presided. The report of the finance committee, which was adopted, showed that the total disbursements of the association) on behalf of returned soldiers had' been nearly half a million sterlin« in 13 years. At March 1, 1928, the total funds of the association amounted to £132,655 8/3. Since that date the sum of £3210 3/7 had been received from interest on investments. £1259 11/6 refunds from southern patriotic societies, and £10 16/8 rrom donations, making a total of £137,162. The expenditure under all headings since March 1. 192$ amounted to £11.287 10/11, leaving a balace in hand of £125,874 9/1. The total fund of the association since its inception amounted to £606,620 1/, and the total disbursements under all headings have amounted to £480,743 11/11. or general purpose fund, which stood at £40,000 In 1915 and was augmented in 1920 by £18,000 transferred from the Women's Patriotic league Fund, only £2850 was now available.

Economic Conditions Increase Claims. The report of the Claims Board and a report on unemployment relief u oik caused some serious discussion. The Claims Board report stated, inter alia, that the following figures showed the increase in the volume of work dealt with by the Claims Board for the relative period to that under review (March 4 to September 12)- 19-">4 822 cases; 1925 734; 1926, 1318; 1927" 2527; itfZO (period under review) 3805. This increase, while not altogether unexpected, was greatly in excess of what was anticipated, and without question, was due ih part, at any rate, to the economic conditions obtaining during 1927 and throughout this year to date", xlie value of the association's fund had never been more clearly demonstrated than during the past six months and there was every indication that the con ditions referred to in the report would continue for some time. The payments for the six motaths under review had!

been £8823 9/6, of which £1954 17/1, was the association's share of wages o« relief works, and £6870 12/ assistance in various forms, but chiefly cash grants to applicants.

Speaking to the Claim's Board's report, Mr. A. G. Lunn said that even with the valued grants from the War Funds Council, aggregating £1300, the B fund must very shortly be exhausted. Hs believed the last penny of it should hs spent to relieve distress. The report wsa adopted. Unemployed Men. Assisted. The report on unemployment relief work and disbursements stated that • large number of ex-soldiers had been kept intermittently at work under the Government subsidised scheme in cooperation with the Auckland City Council. During the last six months 1626 weeks' work had been provided at a cost to the association of £1954 17/3. While this form of relief could not be considered adequate or wholly satisfactory, it had been the means of temporarily providing for a large number of unemployed returned men. for whom otherwise the economic position would have been much more difficult. The report stated that the B fund was the only fund available from which jrrovision could be made for unemploy» ment relief. The net balance of the B fund was £2850. and so caution in further authorisations was necessary. The report concluded with the statement that the committee was glad to be able to intimate that from authoritative reports over 90 per cent of the men were diligent workers. The Canteen Fund. In the discussion that followed the chairman said tho B fund was likely to Secome exhausted this year. Mr. N. A. Xathan asked whether the War Canteen Fund could not be drawn upon, but Sir •Tames Gunson said that fund was outside their jurisdiction. Mr. E. W. Inder -aid he understood some of the Canteen Fund interest was to be made available for the relief of distressed soldiers. A question was then asked by Mr. V. •I. I-arner as to whether some of the A fund could not be transferred to the B fund, and he supported the claims of the fit men for assistance. The chairman said the experience of the association was that the A fund should not be interfered with. At the present rate of expenditure it only had a life of ten years. In supporting the chairman Mr. H. Horton said a definite aj>]>eal was made oa l»ehalf of the sick and wounded soldiers, and as such was supported by tho Press of Auckland. The executive had a trust, and in view of the many demands from disabled men he was not in favour of the A fund being drawn upon for other purposes. No action was taken, and the report was adopted.