HELP FOR SOLDIERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 61, 3 June 1927, Page 1

HELP FOR SOLDIERS

PATRIOTIC FUNDS allocation policy challenge any returned soldier with a claim on the funds to prove that he has not been generously treated; if we as a patriotic society err at all, it is on the side of generosity.” Mr. V. J. Darner said this yesterday in a statement of the policy of the Auckland Patriotic Association: “It goes without saying that the administrators of the large patriotic war funds are bound to find among the thousands of applicants for assistance a certain percentage of men who think that money should be paid to them without let or hindrance simply because they are returned soldiers,” said Mr. Darner. “To follow such a course would quickly bring the administration into ridicule and disgrace.” There is a small section of men who lay themselves out to “sponge” on the funds. Applicants in both these categories are in a striking minority compared with the thousands of men who appreciate what the fund has done for them.” Throughout, the association had maintained the policy that grants from the fund should not be looked upon as a reward for war services. No one had championed the cause of returned soldiers and their dependants more effectively than the patriotic associations. TiOT TO RELIEVE UNEMPLOYMENT “It has apparently been lost sight of that our funds are war funds, and not funds for the relief of unemploj’ment,” Mr. Darner said. “The money was subscribed for a definite purpose, and men and women were appointed by the subscribers to administer the funds. We have, therefore, a definite and solemn trust which neither the Government nor any other authority has any right to interfere with so long as the trust is being fairly carried out, and that, most certainly, is being done.” The association’s, main fund, which was termed the “A” fund, was subscribed foi; soldiers, sailors and nurses who enlisted in the Auckland Province, and who were in necessitous circumstances due to war disability, or who might be wholly or partially incapacitated from any cause arising from active service, and also for the dependants of such persons or those who were killed on active service or who died from injuries received in the war. In the year ended March 31 last, sums totalling £14,000 had been distributed from this fund to meet claims under the above headings. “SAFEGUARD INTERESTS” The association’s “B” fund, which was for the relieving of distress in the city came from causes arising from the war, and had had in late years very few claims made upon it by returned soldiers. For the year which ended March 31, 126, the grants from this fund amounted to only £B4. In the past financial year the grants had totalled over £I,OOO, while, since last March, over £IOO a month had been distributed or spent from the £und. . “There is now only £B,OOO left in the ’B’ fund,” Mr. Darner said. “In the past two years our total funds have decreased by over £16,000 and should this rate of expenditure continue the funds will be exhausted in nine years. There is no doubt that for the next 15 years men will be breaking down in health as a result of their war service, and it behoves those who are responsible for the administration of patriotic funds to safeguard the interests of those for whom the funds were primarily subscribed.”