CANTEEN FUNDS BOARD

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1931, Page 2

CANTEEN FUNDS BOARD

UNEMr'LOYtv.WfcT K^LItF. THOUSAND PuUNDS A MONTH r» /\l» I lu. WELLIAuION, July 29. A special meet.ng <n tne vA.iuceii ami ivugiineiiLal r anus .trust -LmuiX. v.t.s lie.a touay to consider a riqiusi ii-otu ine amnia! comeivnce of the -\-\\ z-eaiancl Hemmed, .'soicheis’ Association tliat tim coal'd siiomd vote a lurcher LIU, OUI) forthwith 'lor the relict of unemployment. Those present were Major-ueiiernl Sir Andrew Russell (chairman;, Colonels A. E. Stewart, R. St. J. Bee re, H. Avery and M. Alctred, Mr R. B. Bell and Major L. G. Foigie. 'The following resolutions were carried unanimously on the motion ol Mr Bell, seconded by Colonel Stewart: — (1) That the Canteen Board is of 'opinion that its primary duty is to preserve the capital of the fund intaet at the existing figure of £201,009 against the fust-approaching day when those for whom the fund is held in trust raav in considerable numbers become shattered in health or destitute in mind, body or estate, and when the public memory of the sacrifices of its sons may be dimmer than is the case to-day. (2) That, while having regard to the foregoing resolution, the Canteen Board is gravely concerned at the current distress caused by unemployment amongst returned soldiers i and, in addition to the £23,300 which it has already contributed for such relief, including £7IOO already voted this calendar year, is prepared to vote further relief' to the extent of a sum not exceeding £IOOO a month as from Sep tern, her 1. 1931, for an indeterminate period, that sum to he fixed each month by a conference between the board’s standing sub-committee and the standing sub-committee of the Now Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and to he distributed through the latter body. In moving these resolutions Mr Bell expressed the opinion, which was generally endorsed, that the board should commence to distribute its capital as distinct from interest (now amounting to £II,OOO per annum) in 1936 or thereabouts. This date was named for several reasons. In the first place it appeared as if the patriotic funds would, in many eases, he nearing exhaustion. Secondly, the medical evidence available up to date seemed to indicate that there was a tendency for ex-sercive men to become less efficient from the health point of view soon after they reached the age of fifty, as against a civilian whose standard would be maintained till he was sixty. It seemed more than probable that from about 1936 onwards many men who would not he able to establish their right pensions hut whose bona fides would not- he in doubt would require assistance. All the funds the hoard could conserve would he required to assist these men, either by way of annuities or bv supplementing the existing pntHotJc funds, or both.