PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES' FUNDS. RETURN SHOWING AMOUNTS COLLECTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE WAR, COST OF COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION, AMOUNTS PAID BY EACH SOCIETY TO SOLDIERS AND THEIR DEPENDANTS, AND STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1919 Session I, H-27

H.—27

1919 NEW ZEALAND.

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES' FUNDS. RETURN SHOWING AMOUNTS COLLECTED DURING THE PERIOD OF THE WAR, COST OF COLLECTION AND ADMINISTRATION, AMOUNTS PAID BY EACH SOCIETY TO SOLDIERS AND THEIR DEPENDANTS, AND STATEMENT OF INVESTMENTS.

Return to an Order of the House of Representatives dated the 26th September, 1919. Ordered, "That there be laid before this House a roturn showing—(l) The amount of money collected by Patriotic Societies throughout the Dominion during the period of the war; (2) the cost of collecting and administering such funds ; (3) the amount paid out by each society to soldiers and their dependants ; (4) the amount of such funds (if any) that are on fixed deposit, also amounts invested and the period of time covering such investment, the rates of interest, and with whom such investments have been made." —(Mr. Simple.)

Return. (1.) The amount of money collected by Patriotic Societies throughout tlie Dominion during the period of the war was £4,866,520. (2.) The cost of administering and collecting such funds was £217,616. (3.) The amount paid out by all societies to soldiers and their dependants was £351,839 (see footnote). (4.) The latest return is dated 30th September, 1918, and shows that at that date there was an amount on fixed deposit of £181,570, the total amount invested being £1,390,801. The average rate of interest earned is estimated as between 4 and 4| per cent. The following table shows with whom this amount is invested, the amount invested in each case, and the percentage invested in each : — T. T . , r . , Amount. Percentage under Nature of Investment. „ , T ° , £ each Investment. Local bodies .. .. .. .. .. 324,021 23-3 Mortgages.. .. .. .. .. .. 276,364 19-8 War Loan .. .. .. .. .. .. 217,584 15-7 Fixed deposit .. .. .. .. .. 181,570 13-1 Government securities . . . . . . . . 118,204 8-5 Current account .. .. .. .. .. 70,771 54 Post Office Savings-bank .. .. .. .. 55,287 4-0 Public, Trustee .. .. .. .. .. 48,000 3-4 Building societies and sundries .. .. .. 99,000 7-1 £1,390,801 100-0 From examination of the latest annual reports of the societies administering relief it would appear that at least 85 per cent, of the investments will be falling due during the next five years. With regard to the remaining 15 per cent, there are investments maturing up to as late as 1940, being principally invested in the form of city and borough debentures and deposits. As the average rate of interest earned upon these investments is 5 per cent., it would appear that they will be readily negotiable should necessity arise. Note. —Detailed information concerning all moneys which have been paid to the various Patriotic Societies throughout the Dominion will be found in the Statement of Patriotic Funds (H.-46) which has been laid on the table of the House. J. Hislop, Under-Secretary. Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington, 10th October, 1919.

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