TRENTHAM BURSARIES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 11

TRENTHAM BURSARIES

FOR CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS RENEWALS AND NEW AWARDS GRANT FROM CANTEEN FUNDS Every year, about thiß time, consideration is given to the children of soldiers by the executive of the I‘rentham Scholarship Fund. Towards the end of the war this fund was raised ior the purpose of assisting in the secondary education of the children of fallen and disabled men. The nianageraent of the business is in the hands of Mr James Mclntosh, the wellknown accountant, under direction of an executive that is subject to periodical election by the contributors. The present executive consists of: ■ —His Honour the Chief Justice, Mr C. P. Skerrett, Major-General B. Young, Colonel H. R. Potter, Sir A. F. Roberts, Major Forgie, Dr. Marsden, Messrs W. Appleton, John Caughley, S. Kirkcaldie, M. J. Reardon and G. A. Troup. Mr Sidney Kirkcaldie has been chairman of • the executive sinco the saheme was initiated. The total distribution of bursaries in seven years has amounted to £17,722. This has only been possible since the trustees of the regimental canteen fund decided to give a helping hand. They were so satisfied, after examining the records of the great service that was being rendered to the children by these bursaries, that a substantial sum is now forthcoming annually. The executive divide the applicants into three classes. First, the children of soldiers who died overseas; secondly, the children of disabled soldiers; and thirdly, the children of soldiers who served overseas. The value of the scholarship is determined largely by the class, though every application is considered on its merits. The executive lias just mGt in Wellington for the purpose of awarding the bursaries for 1927. In the case of new awards, these are granted subject to the applicant securing proficiency pass for this year. Tlursarieß were awarded to 198 applicants, representing 134 renewals and 64 new awards. The total amount to be disbursed during the year is

£4432 10s, or an average of £22 7s 8d per head. The total amount available annually from the fund proper, covering principal and interest, over a period of twenty years is £2480 10s. The amount awarded js £1592 in excess of the amount available, hut it has been possible to meet all claims on account of the generous assistance of the canteen and regimental trust fund hoard, which has allotted a sum hot exceeding £2OOO per annum for the purposes of Trentham bursaries. A close scrutiny of the work done by the bursars during the year was underbaioen by the Eduaaljion De 4 partment and discloses a highly satisfactory state of affairs. In every case it appears that the assistance granted is being taken full advantage of by the bursars. The thanks of the executive are due to the Defence Department, the Education Department'and the Patriotic Societies throughout the Dominion for the valuable information they have been able to supply.