WAR FUNDS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1927, Page 1

WAR FUNDS

COUNCIL'S ANNUAL .MEETING. WELLINGTON. July 1. The twelfth annual meeting of the National War Funds Council was held yesterday at Parliament House, the Minister in Charge of War Funds (the |/on. Air Downio Stewart) being in the chair. The question of commutation of pensions was closely discussed in all its phases, and it was resolved that before a pensioner is permitted to commute his pension to embark ill business the Ratriotic Society responsible should be consulted so that enquiries could he made into the proposal with a view to seeing whether the venture had reasonable prospects of success. Hi order to allow Patriotic Societies to render still more assistance

it was decided to allocate the sum of £SOOO among the various Patriotic Societies in the Dominion for the purpose of assisting necessitous cases arising out of unemployment. The supply of. suits and overcoats t-o patients in hospitals was considered, with the result that the Rod Cross Society and the Order of SI. John are to he asked 1o undertake this supply. The Alinister intimated that he had received a cheque for £528 9s Id as the result of n recital .given liv AL Paderewski.

Tn view of the fact, that the proceeds were for distressed soldiers it was resolved that the fund should ho handed to the central authority of the New Zealand R.S.A. for disbursement. \ resolution expressing appreciation of the generous action of Al. Paderewski was passed unanimously. The balance sheet ami statement of ncrouuts were adopted. The Accumulated Fund is now shown iti £l2i.->(55 IPs lid. being an increase of £ll-2 11s sd. due to the Taranaki transfer. Tbe relief accorded totalled L'biOP nAll made up as follows : Ex-Imperial. £1699 Iso 2d; N.Z.E.F. £1313 Ills 7d: overseas. £272 9s 3d. The balance is disbursements by the Advisory Committees. The report with reference to bursaries was adopted. This showed that from 1919 to 1926 79 bursaries were accorded, the total expenditure being £BO9I 18s Sd. The fact that not more than three relinquished their studies after having been .granted a bursary was noted with pleasure. The fact that practically all those who resumed their studies succeeded in obtaining their degrees was regarded ns a striking oxnmple of wliat application and determination can accomplish.