WAR RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 120, 14 February 1921, Page 6

WAR RELIEF

17,064 APPLICATIONS IN FIVE

YEARS

Interesting figures as to rpplictions for relief, are given in the annual report of the War Relief Association of Wellington. The total number of applications received during the year amount to 4731, and since the committee considered its first application it had, nt November 30. 1920, dealt with 17,064 applications. There had beer, an increase during the year under review as compared with the preceding year, of 8.9 per cent, in the number of claims received and of 6 per cent, compared with 1918. The total lodged during the six months December 1, 1919, to May 21, 1920, was 2170, and 2561 were dealt with between June 1 and November 30, 1920, a. total in all of 4731 for tho year. The claims considered in previous years were: 1796 in 1916, 3301 in 1917, 3039 in 1918, and 4237 in 1919. The claims received during the year under review include a large number of applications from men discharged from one to four years ago, who are still suffering partial or complete economic loss ns the result of lheir war service. In many of these cases the husband has been ordered to hospital for treatment, and the wives and dependants have been compelled to apply to the association for assistance pending receipt, of pensions. The committee is of the opinion that the aftennafh of the war will be felt, for many years to come, and this is endorsed by Major-General Sir A. W. Chnytor i-.nd Dy BrigadierG’°nerals 'G. S. Richardson and D. J. M'Gavin, as well as by the Dominion Executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. "The necessity for the careful expenditure of the balance of your funds, in view of the claims that will bo made upon them in the years to come, is ol»vious," concludes the report.