MORE FUNDS WANTED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2868, 5 September 1916, Page 6

MORE FUNDS WANTED

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY ALERT WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION APPROVES At yesterday's meeting of _ the Wellington War Relief Association a letter was received from Mr. T. M. Wilford, ohairman of the Wellington Patriotic Society, stating that it was the opinion of his society that the time was opportune for making another appeal to the public for funds on behalf of wounded soldiers. To this letter it was decided to forward the following reply:— "Dear Sir,—Your letter of September '2, was brought before the meeting of the executive held this day, and it was decided to thank your society for its practical suggestion that it should obtain further funds in aid of the wounded soldiers, tho net amount, after deducting tho necessary expenses involved, to bo handed over to this association for distribution.

"My executive is of the opinion that any such action of your society is to be commended, and heartily approves of your proposal to-obtain further funds, which will be badly needed. "At the present time the expenditure amounts to about £100 per month, and thero is every sign that it will increase rapidly, as fresh cases come forward. This present Tate of expenditure is four times tho interest receivable on the investments. This is apart from any special grants or largo sums which it may be necessary ,to mako in order to facilitate other societies or organisations who. have for their objects the assistance of distressed soldiers or their dependants. After the war thero will be considerable demands made upon our resources, and as far as can bo foreseen a large number of the payments will have to he continued for a long term of years, to supplement tho pensions granted to. wounded men and to the families r of men who have been killed, or who will bo in a worso position to earn as a direct result of the present, war. The association has now in hand approximately tho sum of £81,000, of which practically all is out on deposit earning interest. You will therefore sco that without additional funds our present moneys will be expended in tho course of a very few years, even at tho present low rato of expenditure. My executive will therefore welcome any assistance which can bo rendered to us. As this association is purely a distributing body, it is unable to tako any active part in any scheme for tho acquisition of funds, other than hy urging tho public to becoiiie annua! contributors or lii'o members."

Mr. L. O. H. Tripp thought that the letter should he published, as it gave a very good idea of the work that tho association was doing, and the claims it had to meet. It was not generally' known that no genuine claimant for assistance -was refused, and as Wellington was tho natural centre towards whicil the men drifted, a great many cases from districts outside Wellington were dealt with. The work the War Relief Association was doing was really a national one, and that should bo known.

Mr. I). M'Larcn also referred to the position Wellington was in and said that as one having recently returned from an extensive tour, tho work done hy the War Relief Association was greatly appreciated in other parts of tho Dominion.