FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 5

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

DROP IN NEW APPLICATIONS. A drop in new applications is one of the interesting features of the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board's report on November's operations. Evidently tlio high-water mark of this useful scheme has been reached, for the progress of demobilisation -will result in grants being withdrawn as the soldiers resume civilian occupation. The assistance does not stop immediately the Eoldier leaves camp with his discharge. It goes on for one month, during which time the soldier is also drawing pay and other allowances. i The actual position of tho scheme, showing to what magnitude it developed while the war was in progress, was a* follows on November 30 :— , . L Total. Assistance to: Number. £ Appellants ; 25S 10,017 Non-appellants Iffil 140,360 Voluntary recruits 1397 19 03(1 Members N.Z.E.F 28S-1 79J31 Grand totals 9190 ,£279,171 The secretary of the board states that during November 297 new applications were received, compared with 1128 during tho previous month. Carrying on its work in connection with applications previously in 'hand, it dealt with 1257 cases, including 259 reconsiderations. | Grants wero mado in 503 cases, 218 apj plications wore declined, 27 deferred for further information from the applicants, and no fewer than -179 withdrawn, owing chiefly to the fact that tho applicants realised that there was no likelihood of their going into camp. Last month's expenditure fov soldiers' assistance totalled just over ,£12,000, made up thus:— ,C Kent 5,072 Interest 2,235 Instalments ISO Rales 261 Life insuranco 3,930 Fire insuranco 123 I.odgo fees 03 National Provident Fund 37 I ' Confinement expenses ... 18 Miscellaneous 58 1 Total -_ ■■ lam