10,000 FUND

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1929, Page 3

10,000 FUND

FOR EX-SOLDIERS. ‘[lLf Telegraph, Per Association.] - INVRRCAROIiL, May 21. ,j\ ,mp : ton, by Mr' H. E.* Niven:— ‘♦.That the; sum of!' £IO,OOO lie set aside for special relief ’’—was the first move, in a ■■ npw schemes, for assisting returned soldiers, at; tlie annual meeting of the Southland'.Wiir Funds Association.’ Mr Niven, in speaking to his motion, said that lie was of opinion that part of ‘.the Association’s funds should be set aside towards assisting returned soldiers who in, their old age might find themselves in necessitous circumstances. At present the majority of returned soldiers were making gallant efforts to scrape along with pensions and what they could earn by hard'worlt, many by their earnings only. All knew the difficulty that a mail past his prime had in obtaining employment, and in no case could it lie said that there was a sufficient margin from his earnings after providing for the cost of living, house rent and other matters, to make any provision whatever for old ; age and incapacitation for hard work which old ago entailed. He had come to .the. conclusion that ,while the Association had still a substantial balance, £IO,OOO should be set asido or a period of ten years. B.v the end of that period, it would have increased to over £17,000, and would , then bo available for /.the assistance of those men whose position required assistance by paying house rents, augmenting pensions and relieving their necessities generally. After, discussion it was decided to wait .until the result of the Commission’s enquiry into the canteen funds was available, and to hold the mattei over until next annual meeting.