FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1917, Page 6

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

CHARGE STEADILY MOUNTING UP. CASES OP IMPOSITION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Dec, 1. The charge on the country in respect of the special financial assistance granted "by the Soldiers' Financial Assistance Board is steadily mounting up. Up to November 22 the 'board in 3221 cases had granted assistance to the extent of £109,323 annually,; The amounts so conceded are in respect of First Division men mainly, and it is expected that the total will rise rapidly as the Second Division is drawn on. The object of the special financial assistance regulations is to keep soldiers' dependents and their interests in, as far as practicable, the same position as they were in before the soldier went into camp. The board desires it to be widely known that it cannot countenance the specially extravagant expenses of a number of cases that have been brought to its notice lately, in which soldiers' ivives, particularly women without children, in respect of whom special assistance has been' granted, have developed nomadic habits, travelling to various parts of New Zealand and taking up fresh board and lodgings at each place, B. course of conduct which they could not have afforded when their husbands were earning ordinary civilian pay. The hoard accordingly has found it necessary to advise some recipients that travelling expanses so frequently incurred eonsider«l>]v discount any claim that could otherwise 'lie made on the ground of undue hardship, and in a few eases the grant Of financial assitsanee has had to be suspended. The board also regrets to record manv cases of extravagant purchases of furniture, sewing machines, and pianos,, within a few Weeks of the husband going into camp, and apparently on the assumption that they would be paid for Hty the fiovcrnment. The board had no alternative but to decline such applications, and ilealevs. consequently, wlio persuade soldiers' dependents to purchase goods under such expectations will find themselves worse off financially. It is desired at the same time to emphasise that the regulations axe specially intended to meet all genuine cases, and are being interpreted in this spirt by the board. The board, however, cannot countenance. cases of extravagancy