PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Shannon News, 27 May 1924, Page 2

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

STILL WORK FOR PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES. The annual report presented at the mooting of the llurowhenua Patriotic Society last- week was as follows At the present time there seems to he some controversy as to what should be done with the patriotic funds held hy the various war relief and patriotic societies throughout the Dominion Thole appeals to be two trends of opinion on the question. One favours a liberal and somewhat indiscriminate distribution to returned men. simply on the* ground of war service so that the funds may eventually disappear. The other opinion is that of conserving funds and centralising them in order to lessen cost of administration, the interest 'only .to be used m granting assistance to returned then suffering, as a result .of war serviceand providing bathes lor those who need them. The first .theory, is capable of abuse, for it would be possible to give away without much thought, funds which might he greatly needed within the next, ten or jilteen years. The second theory if carried into, effect would build up a large fund and does not provide as to who shall benefit .. thereby, when those who' receive assistance from the annual income have passed oil. At the annual meeting of the Levin branch of the Returned Soldiers’.Association, recently 'held, dissatisfaction was expressed that the R.S.A. had no control in title disposal of the Patriotic funds. Whilst as an Association the R.S;A. is certainly without control, yet returned men are found upon the War Relief Committees and d'i good worlv thereon. WORK OF THE SOCIETIES.

Although nearly ten years have' elapsed since the Great War began, there is still plenty of work for the various Associations. In the last published balance sheet of the. Wellington War Relief Association it is shown that the Emergency Committee met practically every day and dealt promptly with over 10(H) urgent cases. The Applications Committee met 48 times and altogether over 300 meet/ iugs were held during the year and 2200 cases Avere dealt with entailing an expenditure of £14,000. This district is perlKtps more interested in the Wellington Association than any other, as some £3OOO or £4OOO went from this district to build up the Wellington Fund. This Association from its geograph-

ical position has had to meet- many claims and its funds have shrunk in tlie process from £91,000 to £48,000. Although .its work now is not so great as it was oyer three years since, enough has been said to show that it is still a very big task andjbe, voluntary'work put into it. is amazing. The cost of administration has fallen by £IOOO per annum from its highest point, and is by no means excessive. Turning for a moment? or two to Auckland, the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association is a big affair with accumulated funds amounting to £170,000. 'lt has \ provincial committees in some twenty or thirty-towns in tire Auckland province. controls and supports the-'Veter-ans’” Home and the Returned Soldier's’ Club and disburses some £15,000 annually, and it seems .that'its-'revenue-about meets its . expenditure. Our, nearest neighbour on the North, the Manawatn Patriotic Society, incorporated, has funds amounting to about £48,000 and lias distributed some £3300 during the past- year. The operations of these societies indicate that- there are still ‘duties and energies calling for careful and constant attention, and not as recently stated here “the work had now decreased to a minimum-.” On the question of centralisation, undoubtedly a. large fund could be more economically managed than several small funds' 4 , but. against ' that there are local advantages to be gained by local control, and the nature of the ’business would always entail a fairly large cost for administrative work even if the funds were controlled from one centre. The smaller societies have gradually become absorbed by t-lie larger ones, and pretty well all ‘ those now in existence "arc Incorporated Societies subject to Government audit and the statutory provisions of the various Acts of "Parliament relating to Patriotic Funds. OUR OWN SOCIETY.

The Hurowlieiiua County Patriotic Association has alter seven years of its existence still' a capital of about £5600.

LOANS. From its inception the policy of the Association has been to lend to returned men money to help them in the period when they are trying to establish a home and “to get upon their feet.’’ Interest has been charged at 4J, per cent, and {is soon as sufficient repayments werei\ in hand the money has been lent out again to other applicants. From, the bal-ance-sheet i t will be seen that we have C 2500 invested in this way . During the year repayments amounted to £425 as against. £274 last year. The loans granted amounted to £307 as against £432 last year. Number of loans to soldiers at date is 43. GRANTS. Soldiers and their dependants have received assistance to the extent of u->B4 last, vear £322 was paid out, an average of about, £3OO for the two years. COMMITTEE WORK. The attendances at the various meetings have been very fair indeed and the usual careful attention has been given to matters brought in for consideration. It is with great regret we record the passing during the years of one of our most consistent "and painstaking workers—l refer to (he late Mr W. J. Howell, of Paraparaumu. He was an exemplaiy worker hi all matters pertaining to die Association’s work. THANKS AND APPRECIATION. Mr Walkley has carried out his duties during-dhe year with his usual thoroughness and fairness. Tilere aro matters to be dealt with at times

which call for tact and sound judgment and when these times come, Mr Walkley can always be depended on lo do,the right thing—he makes very few mistakes. We would like to record our thanks ahd appreciation to Messrs Arcus and Puttriek, of Wellington, for gratuitously auditing the Association’s accounts, which sendee has been rendered by them since the inception of the. Association. , ,To the local press we desire to express ouV thanks for the publicity always given to the affairs of the Association.