WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 290, 1 September 1920, Page 8

WAR RELIEF

THE £10,000 FUND FOR BLIND SOLDIERS

CONSTITUTION OF WAR FUNDS COUNCIL

Messrs. L. O. H. Tripp (chairman), G. Shirtcliffe, W. Ferguson, C. Watson, and C. M, Luke were present at tho monthly meeting of tho council of tho War Relief Association of Wellington yesterday afternoon.

Tho financial statement showed that 1 tho expenditure for tho month of July had amounted to ,£lsOl 9s. fld.; and tho incomo to „£t3<> 16s. id. .Tho credit bal--1 ances were: War Fund Account A, 9s. 4d.; War Fund Account B. .£1175 12s. 2d.; Imprest Account A, .£312 IDs. id.; Imprest Account 13, .£620 (Is. 6d. The | investments amounted to .£57,637 18s. 9d. Tho total funds at July 31 were as follow -Investments, .£57,637 18s. fld.; current accounts, .£2547 Is. 4d.; petty cash, .£2O. Accounts amounting to .£2ll Is. 9d. were passed for payment. Tib chairman reported on the meeting of the Advisory Board, at which was passed a motion setting aside iIO,OOO for the welfare and after-care of blind soldiers, to be contribute! pro rata by all thn war relief societies in New Zealand. There was also a recommendation that the Government should appoint an aftercare officer, Mr. Clutlio, Mackenzie ] mv . ing suggested that such officer should be a blind man, as only a blind man could understand the blind. A letter on tta subject was Teceived from Mr. R. W. Shallcrass. who requested tlie payment of (Is. Bd. as the Wellington Association's contribution for the first year. . On tho chairman's suggestion it was decided to approve tho payment, subject to the council being -satisfied with the trustees. Mr. Ferguson asked who were to bo the trustees. , The chairman said tot <*> V T , had been appointed.. He suggested that the* mfwibers of tlie Funds Council should bo the trustees, subject. to its constitution including representatives of Hie patriotic societies. Mr. Ferguson: I should 6av thnt. the Advisory Board should be constituted the War Funds Council. _ The chairman: Well, that is Dractieally what I had in my mind. I was going to bring it up at the next meeting of tho council. Mr. Shirtcliffe asked if it would not be right for the War Funds Council (which had .£30.000) to contribute the ,£IO,OOO for tho Wind soldiers. To him it; seemed a pity to further deplete the association s funds, which were dribbling away very The chairman 6aid it was not altogether a bad idea for the War Funds Council to hold that fund as already several of tlie smaller societies were closing down and distributing their funds. In 6uch districts thero were almost bound rone cases* of men broaking down in consequence, of their war service. Mr. Shirtcliffe roiterated Ms opinion that the War Funds Council should provide tho money for the blind soldiers The chairman said that) as a matter of fact theT would not mind handing the money over to the War Funds Council if tho societies had representation on that kftf'was finally decided to inform the Advisory Board that the association was in svmpathv with the proposal to set up a iIO,OOO fund for blind soldiers, but that more information was required as to tho trustees and methods of administration. ~ .. . There ensued a desultory discussion as to the financial status of the various societies. Tho ctairman said l that it was generally recognised by tho members that eventually the strong societies would have to help the weak ones. The Auckland Societv alone said that it i\ould wait to see how things went. Amourthe wealthiest societies were Hnwkes Bay, Palmcrston North, and Wairarupa. Finance Committee's Report. The Finance Committee reported thnt it had met on two occasions during August iind in addition to the ordinary business in connection with fi nanc ?> . c °"" sidered 16 applications which hail been referred from the Applications Committee. One application from tho wife of a soldier in-patient for assistance in tlie purchase of house jiropexty (immg declined) was reconsidered and on account of subsequent inquiries wealing a case of hardship. Nine other applinations for assistance in purchasing house property including that of a blind sd, Sier. and those of six HallV disabled men, were considered. T7,MIS oTaSt of the necessary c mmodation being available from the Government was declined. The Teport was adopted.