WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 21, 19 October 1917, Page 6

WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION

GENERAL MEETING. > i

A general meeting of the War Belief Association was held in the office of the association, yesterday afternoon, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp presiding. The meeting was called for the purpose of passing an amendment to the rules defining mqro clearly the jurisdiction of the association.

Rule 3 as it finally stands under the approval of His Excellency the Gover-nor-General is as follows:—"The association is intended to be an organisation for the collection of funds. within the Wellington provincial district, or any part thereof, or within any extended district appointed by the Executive Committee under Rule 15 (h) for ' the benefit of soldiers, sailors, and other persons mentioned iu Rule 2 (whether such persons were at the time of enlistment resident in the district for tho time being of the association or not, and whether such persons havo or havo r.ot enlisted from such district). But the administration, application, or expenditure of such funds 6hall not be so limited, or limited to places within New Zealand; and the Executive Committee, in the administration of such funds, may have special regard for and give preference to persons who havo enlisted from or were resident in tho said district at the time of their enlistment; or to other persons or objects that the Executive Commiteo may in their 'absolute discretion think that tho donors of the funds intended primarily to "benefit. And the association may from time to time pay and entrust any part or parte of its funds to any organisation, institution, association, or persons, to be administered and applied by it or them for any of the purposes to which the association is authorised to devote its funds, subject to such conditions and regulations as tho' association may prescribe." Meeting of the Executive. A meeting of the executive of tho association was held immediately after tho general meeting. The report oil the Finance Committee showed that during the month of September the expenditure totalled .£1245 Is. 2d., and the income, .£461 Is. Gd., showing an excess of expenditure over income paid out of capital .£7BO 19s. Pd. The total funds, as at September 30, 1917, consisting of investments .£75,214, current accounts £082 is. lid., and ca6h in hand .£2O/ was £75,916 is. lid. Accounts amounting to £100 lis. 7d. were passed for payment. Since the executive last met a sum of £200 was received through the Mayor, being part of the proceeds of the combined schools concert, and a letter of thanks had, been sent to the promoters of the concert. A sum of £1 was also received from "F.K." V Messrs. Chapman, Skerrett, Tripp, fnd Blair wrote advising that Mr. John W. Chapman had executed a transfer by way of gift to the association of Lots 11 and 12, part of Section 125, Hutt district, Township of Bentinck, containing 1 rood 9.8 perches. The Relief Committee reported:— T.he committee had met on ten occasions since last meeting of the executive, and dealt with 325 applications. Tho committee reported to executive on August 9 that it had obtained tho maximum pension (355. per week) on behalf of two soldiers in mental institutions. These two men were being maintained at the cost of tl-a Government, and in so far, as their pension was concerned the committee was acting as trustees. Arrears of pension had been received, and the monthly payments drawn under, the agents' warrant, the moneys being disbursed for the benefit of the wives and children. The association had also,, .at the request of tbe Minister of Defence (Sir James Allen), to receive on behalf of. tho wife of a naval reservist arrears of pay amounting to a considerable sum, Kind monthly warrants for the increased rate of pay, amounting to 17s. 4d. per week, would be made payable to the association ss trustees. , At the request of the war expenses branch the committee had agreed to receive monthly payments of allotment money and wifo and children 8 allowances, and to disburse "Same m weekly payments to those dependants whom it would appear were not themselves capable of properly expending the money. The necessary arrangements to properly account for moneys received and expend- ; ed by the association as trustees havo | been completed, referred to and ppproved by tho Finance Committee. | It was resolved, on the motion of Jir. , J Hutchison:—"Thnt the repfesenta- j tives on the Advisory Board of this nsso-,. .ciation bring hefon the next meeting | of tho board that the board consider tho drawing up of a scheme for the establishing of returned soldiers in their former or other, occupations, by providing special educational training; teclim-1 cal training for crafts or profession?,: the establishment and administration ot ; a fund from which advances may be : made to start returned soldiers in busi- ; ness, the giving of expert advice tolsol-; diers engaged in new businesses, and all | other matters for the rehabilitation of returned soldiers who may not be qualified to settle on tho land.