ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 260, 1 August 1942, Page 6

ADMINISTRATION OF FUNDS

Claims By Men Of 1914-18 And Present Wars CO-OPERATION OF TWO ORGANIZATIONS The administration of the funds of the Wellington War Relief Association in conjunction with the relief funds of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee was the subject of a statement made by the chairman, Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, at a meeting of the executive of the former body yesterday, when he outlined the policy, which was followed. “After the present war broke out, he said, "the executive of the War Relief Association interviewed the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee and suggested that it might be in the interests of the patriotic committee and tlie members of the fighting forces who may have claims on patriotic funds, if a joint committee of members from both bodies was formed to administer their funds insofar as applications for ‘welfare’ assistance were concerned. "The executive of the War Relief Association pointed out that, their organization had had some 27 years’ experience in the administration of the War Relief Association’s fund, and that in their office they had nearly 15,009 files concerning men who served in the 1914-18 war. It was further represented that a number of men who served in the old war were also serving in the present war, and the availability of these files would mean the saving of much expense in investigating and dealing with the applications from men who served in both wars, as useful information respecting such men would be readily available and determination regarding necessary assistance could be more quickly and satisfactorily reached than would otherwise be the case. The Metropolitan Patriotic Committee agreed to the suggestion, and appointed Messrs. A. Urquhart and W. IT. Price. The other members of the committee are Messrs. L. O. 11. Tripp, J. Murray, E. C. Hale, E. T. Norris, W. Duncan and E. T. Porter. In addition to the members on the applications committee, the association has on its executive Messrs. H. R. Chalmers, G. B. Hull, C. S. Falconer, R. L. Macalister, H. W. Kersley, R. B. Gibbons, Dr. T. G.’Gray and ColC. H. Weston, K.C. “Before an application is disposed of, the history of the applicant, as far as is available, is fully gone into. If the man is single and Ills claim has merit, it is referred to the W.R.S.A., which administers’ to unmarried men of the 1914-18 war. If the man (married or unmarried) is in hospital, the Red Cross and fit. John organizations look after him, but after he comes out of hospital any application is dealt with by the War Relief Association, and the W.R.A. always attends to any claims on behalf of dependants. If the man is an Imperial soldier his claim is referred, with a recommendation, to the N.Z. R.S.A., which has a fund to meet such a case. No Fixed Policy On Grants "The experience of the War Relief Association In connexion with last war cases, and also now of the joint committee, with the present war cases, is that it. is impossible to lay down any hard and fast policy respecting maximum or minimum grants. Each case has to be taken on its merits, ibut It is a rule that, except in special cases, no cash is given but only orders. The W.RjS.A. make it an invariable rule that no cash shall be given in any case. “If a disabled sailor or a disabled airman applies for relief, his case is referred to the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Fund (sometimes known as Flock House Trustees).' This body has certain funds set aside for the benefit of disabled sailors and airmen. “There is no delay in dealing with any application which is made to the joint committee of the W.R.A. and the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. The committee meets three days a week and deals with the different claims. Every application, good or bad, is placed before the committee. If a claim is made by an applicant who served in the last war, the committee deals with the case and any money spent is charged to the War Relief Association. If the applicant served In the last war and also in this war, the committee decide whether any portion or all the money spent should be charged to the W.R.A or should be charged to the funds of the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. In the case of an applicant who served only in the present war any money spent is charged to the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee.”