WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 127, 23 February 1920, Page 6

WAR RELIEF

FULL STATEMENT OP FINANCES.

In the course of the annual report of the War Relief Association tho following statement on the finances is made:—

"Tlie outstanding features of the treasurer's statement are: (n) Temporary grants during the last year (=£11,488) exceeded the total of tlto preceding two years and eleven months; (b) refunds by other societies (.C3BG3) surpassed the aggregate of the preceding two years eleven months; (e) the augmented income attributable to Die transfer of the balance of moneys held bv the Countess of Liverpool Fund U1004) and of .£SOO from the Mayor's Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The totai contributions amounted to .-£27ls—more than twice those of the preceding two years. The total funds, since the inception of tho association, amount to JC11!),418 Bs. 7<l, and the total expenditure for the same period is .£45,704 2s. 9d. Refunds by other societies have increased bv more' than 700 per cent.— from .£537 in 1916 to £3803 in 1919,, whilst repayments by applicants, j£7o in 1916 have increased bv 1200 per cent, to .£B3B in 1919.

"No less than 17 per cent, of the total funds is composed of refunds from all sources (,£94SI) and interest (.£10,149) totalling .£19,030, the total administrative cost, under all headings, being less than one-third of the latter amount; and this notwithstanding tho fact that although the association holds comparatively less money than any kindred organisation, it h,.s (o meet, as the result of its situation an-J in the circumstances already stated, an accelerated administrative cost in regard to labour, and particularly 60 in connection with material—as evidenced by the general expenses and printing and stationery account totalling .£417, yet the goods were purchased under the most favourable conditions, whilst a large advance order, in view of tho rising market, had been executed oighteen months previously. ' "At November 30. 1917, grants to other bodies totalled MM&. in 1918 nnd 1919 the sums so expended fell to £1287 and .£471 -out of the last two amounts .£991, specially approved bv the Minister in charge of the War Funds Office—represented tho association's pro rata contribution to the Dominion Common Regimental Fund of per annum. Had the executive failed to place a check upon these disbursements to other bodies for the purpose of itself directlv administering its funds to siek, wounded, and necessitous soldiers, sailors, and their dependants, with whom it was in actual contact, such action being held to be its primal? ob-ject-pavments aggregating .£9420, for the years 1918 and 1919, would, on the previous aggregate and. inclusive of enbsequent requests, have been granted. This is a vital matter, for including commitments not yet brought to charge, the committee has expended .£47,500, or more than 40 per cent, of the total funds, generally during the currency of military pay and allowances."