Heritage Spent More Than It Collected

Chronicle (Levin), 13 July 1949, Page 3

Heritage Spent More Than It Collected

WELLINGTON, July 12. = ' ' 1 Last year 's expenditure by branclies was £4890 in excess of the regular income," said Dr. O. C. filazengarb, K.C., on behalf of the exeeqtive when reporting. to the conferehce .and annjfai meeting of Heritage "(Ine.) ' ' This is a substantial * sum, ,da£ticurar' ly when it is remembered tTrafc. the years of greatest expenditufe. jof Heritage have eertainly not been reaehed yet, he added. ; "The executive believes that pubiie appreeiation of the spirit behind Heritage, combined with the praetieal evidenee of the actual work aecomplislied, wili result in the neeessary funds being always available. It is pleasing to see that branehes apparently take the same view, and that the assistance they are giving is iineasured by the needs of the children, and not limi^ed to the financial resources provided by members' : . subscriptions and tlie interest obtainablo from investments. " "The increase in expenditure was not unexpeeted, " said Dr. Mazengarb. ' ' Earlier estimates of the likely cails npon the funds of Herita'ge in future years always made it clear that expenditure would increase steadiiy until at least 1957, the year in which the majority of 'the children' will be attaining 17 years of age."

Numbers ' Increase Dr. Mazengarb said the total num•ber of • families under oversight by Heritage had increased by. 180,during the year and the fota'l number of children by 169. Heritage was now catering for 2458 children ■ divided among 1512 homes. ' ' By paying f requent visits to homes the sponsors and welfare oiiicers have become family friends whose counsel is sought wherever pvoblems- arise, or difficulties obtrude theiuselves. The problenis are frequently of a very eprsonal nature. Generous as is the assistance of the State in matters of education, health, etc., so far as the children of deceased servicemen are coneerned, there are many personui difficulties faeed by the mothers of the children under our care, with which no State Department can deal. Tlirough the tact and understanding of the visitors from Heritage, these problemfc are brought to light, ani -solved, either immediately or after discussiop' with the eommittee of the branPh. " Jn the education field widovvs wero helped to send their boys to boarding schools, and payments were made to assist children in'connection with oue or other of the cultural arts. Help was also being given with post-secondary education, assistance being given with university and other courses of a specialist nature. -

South African Interest ' ' During the year- a .request was received froin an drganisaiton known -as ' Gu a,r dianShip, ' . whicli has- beeu f'ormed in : Bontli Affica with objects similar to our own. The fo/undei;s desired to know the experience bf our movement, partieulaiiy in respect of sponsorship. Buitable information was se.nt and an ofit'er of full co-operation made." A motion was passed thanking the J. R. McKenzie Trust for its grant and assistance to the organisation and a further motion r.ecommended to branehes. that women be appointed to executives. A remit put forward by the Otago branch to the efl'ect that the conference instruct the execuive eommittee to formulate for consideration of branehes, a positive policy for the expenditure of funds held by Heritage, sueh policy to take into consideration the numbers of children under the care of each branch and to be related to the efforts of branehes in raising funds in their own districts, was lost. Unaniinous appreeiation of the Gov-ernor-General 's continued praetieal sympathy and keen interest in the work of the organisation, was expressed by the conference. Sir David Smith was again elected president. The vicepresidents, the Prinie Minister, Air Marshal A. de T. E. Nevill, Major-General lv. L. Stewart, Gommodore G. W. Simpson and Sir Howward Kippenberger were also re-elect-ed. The following were returned as members of the council: Dr O. C. Mazeu garb, Iv.G., Messrs R. M. Barker, B. Barrington, D. F. Baueliop, G. W. Birch, G. W. Burnard, R. H. Beaumont, P. II. Bethwaite, J. D. Howitt, J. M. A. Ilott, A. G. Natlian and W. B. Tennent.