R.S.A. FUNDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 566, 19 January 1929, Page 9

R.S.A. FUNDS

SYSTEM OF DISTRIBUTION EXPLAINED MORE MEN HELPED "Although the Returned Soldiers’ Association has lost a few pounds, it is not as much as some organisations are losing every day by fraud,” said Mr. E. H. Sharp, secretary of the R.S.A., to a SUN representative this morning. "The only difference is that we detected it and instituted proceedings.” J^EFUKRl XG to some recent cases where convictions were secured against men who obtained relief subsidies by fraudulently representing that they had employed returned men on relief work, Mr. Sharpe said it was difficult to prevent fraud where people were prepared to go to the extent of forging receipts. The system adopted by the associi.xtion was one that, in the association’s opinion, ensures the money available being distributed among a greater number of men, which is the aim and object strived, for in the spending of the Poppy Day funds. It had been the experience of the association that in some instances money given to local bodies for distribution has been spent on a limited number of men.

Under the association’s scheme residents are invited to employ out-of-work men on odd jobs, such as cleaning up gardens, etc., and the association, on being supplied with the employee’s receipt for the wages, subsidises the employer to the extent of half the amount. For this subsidy the association obtains both the worker’s and employer’s receipt, which in the ordinary course of events was regarded as a safe precaution. Instances had occurred, however, where men had got other men to sign receipts stating that they had received wages for work done and they had then collected subsidies on the amounts.

It is stated that the funds have now been distributed, and no more relief would be forthcoming until after ne:| Boppy Day. The same systems of distribution would probably be used, although it was hoped to make certain alterations winich would eliminate as far as possible any fraudulent applications.

"It was the result of the precautions we took that the men were detected.” said Mr. Sharp. "We, of course, took the cases up. Many organisations get bitten and nothing is heard of it.”