WAR FUNDS COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1923, Page 4

WAR FUNDS COUNCIL

A.v.M'Ak REPORT. WELLINGTON, .July Hi. The annual report and statement ol account.* of the National War Foods Ce.tmeil for the pieriod November. HHA to March 31st. U)22. shows at .March 31st. 102.) the stun, of Cl .330,ii(?7 remained available to meet the various trusts set; tip under the provisions of i.ln> War Funds Art. lff'lo, and its amendments, and was held as under— By ittcorporaled societies £!)!).">,-120, British Bed Cross and Order of St fohn £lO7. I Id, Blinded Soldiers, Crippled Soldiers and Veterans’ Home Funds £20.210. .Memorial Parks Committees £"SSO, New Zealand Treasury £2O.S'.kS, High Commissioner in l.ondon £OO7-1, other societies whose funds are being transferred to provincial incorporated bodies £17.300, and the National War Funds Council £120,020. When the Armistice occurred (hero were OS3 patriotic societies in active operation, and oil March 31st. 1022, owing to the policy uf concentrating funds in provincial societies adopted by the War Funds Office and approved by the Council, but Ido of these reniaiu-

Tho funds of the Council arc well invested and in a sufficiently liquid state to permit of all demands on the resources oj the Council being met without delay. Council administers tile sick and wounded soldiers and their do--pt nilnnls, blind soldiers. Maori soldiers and their dependants, and the mercantile marine and widow and orphans' fund, particulars ol which are set out In the statement, of accounts, and, in addition, is gradually realising on hutments and equipment no longer required for the reeronlif.n ol wounded

soldiers in hospitals niul sanatoria, tin' proceeds of die snips being erediled to the sick niif.l wounded soldiers and their di pendants. The Council advances money to patriotic societies whose capital is not liquid or, alternatvely. purchases their securit T'S, thus saving consequent loss and the expense of a forced sale on the open market. It provides relief and assistance to ex-imperial and other Allied soldiers so as to relieve undue strain on the funds of the war relief associations, .and the administration ol tin Council has made it possible that no matter where a X.Z.F.F. man who has sulfored war disability may he resident, immediate consideration will he supplied him on the basis of the necessity and merits of his ease as reported by 'the local patriotic society or as a result of the CouneiPs investigations. ft is not possible to estimate accurately hmv lone the present funds wil. ho available for relief and assistance to soldiers ( because of the many eases < recurring illness and breakdown of men now apparently lit, as a result of wa. service. The over-changing eronomi conditions in the Dominion are also factors in tho matter, hence the necessity for conservin'; the funds consistent with a reasonable disbursement for the

purpose for which they were raised. Though there is no limit to the assistance to soldiers and their dependants so long as stub relief is biased on the necessity and merits of the case and the funds available, patriotic funds can not bo legally expended on any object outside that for which they were raised, hence the grants to war memorial funds or subsidies to municipal or other unemployment schemes cannot be made from the existing funds.