FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1917, Page 6

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT, . (Special to News.)' Wellington Sept. 7. In the course of a statement regarding the work of the Financial Assistance Board in the House of Representatives to-day, the Minister of Defence said the Board was administering tho regulations in a generous way. It had po.wer to grant to the wives and other dependents of soldiers for the payment of rent, interest on mortgages, insurance premiums and tile upkeep .of businesses,' and the records showed that it was' making payments in a very large number of eases. The work naturally would be extended materially when the mobilisation of the Second Division began. The Minister added that it was necessary to exercise due care in order to prevent the misuse of grants, and he proceeded to quote some illustrations. A man who had earned £3 a week went to the war and left his wife and two children. The Board agreed in this case to pay the rent, and found a litle later that the wife had bought a piano for £94 on the time payment system. It then asked her if she could show reason why the grant of rent should not' be reduced. In a similar case it was found that a woman .whose husband earned £3 10s a week before enlistment had spent £54 on furniture a few months after her husband left with the reinforcements. The Board in this case had agreed to pay the rent, but will not make any payment on account .of furniture.