STRAIGHT-OUT GIFTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 203, 29 August 1942, Page 3

STRAIGHT-OUT GIFTS

PAYMENTS FOR SOLDIERS’ FINANCIAL AID (P.A.) Christchurch, Aug. 28. Applications totalling 12,445 had been received by the Soldiers’ Financial Assistance Board up to July 31, said the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, Minister in charge of soldiers’ financial assistance, this morning, when releasing the latest figures covering the boards’ operations. The total commitments of the board up to the same date reached £159,572 Ils Id. Mr. Armstrong said that the board's commitments indicated that the applications were given very generous consideration, to say the least. Applications had been received from dependents, and there was a maximum grant of £3 a week. He emphasised that the payments made by the board were straight-out gifts, with no obligation for repayment. With every part group of men going into camp an increasing number of applications was received, a position that was understandable in view of the fact that the men now being called up were men with greater comimtments and greater family responsibilities than many of those called up previously. The board had been set up early in the war, but its operations on a major scale had only started in the last year or so. An interesting point was that every inember of the board was a returned soldier. In making the grants, the board's object was lo leave a man’s dependents in a position as near as possible to that in which they lived before the man went into camp. It seemed that assistance was sought principally to meet rent payments. There were many cases whence wives, but for the assistance from the board. would have to give up their homes to live with relations. With assistance from the board they were able to keep their homes going for the day when their husbands returned. The Minister said that from what he knew of its work the board was a very fine institution and he had heard very few complaints.