Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1934. WAR RELIEF FUND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 196, 1 June 1934, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1934. WAR RELIEF FUND.

The report and balance-sheet presented to the annua! meeting of the Ashburton County War Relief Fund last night are worthy of comment on account of the very able manner in which the fund has been administered. A standing tribute to that careful, businesslike administration lies in the fact that, starting with a capital amount of approximately £25,000, no less than £32,378 has been spent in assistance to disabled or needy soldiers and dependants, while there is still some £BOOO in hand. Such a result, apart altogether from the question of more or fewer demands, has been achieved only by administration op the most sound lines. Thus, happily, when changed conditions now necessitate a broad interpretation of the objects for which the fund was subscribed jthe committee has been able to meet the needs and still have provision for affording aid in the future. The returned soldiers are fortunate in that those in control of the fund were far-sighted enough to realise that early heavy expenditure, prompted only by a wave of patriotism and of sincere desire to discharge the debt due to men of all arms, would cripple the fund and prevent the fulfilment of its real object; that those in control realised that their duty would become more and more onerous and the call more and more insistent as the years brought out disabilities traceable directly to war service and included an increasing number of men coming within the legitimate operation of the,fund. It is pleasing to be informed that the medical officials of the Pensions Department give very sympathetic consideration to the cases that come before them, and that both the Pensions Board and the Pensions Appeal Board are also actuated by the same motives. But no matter how sympathetic the boards may be, it is impossible for all cases that seek and deserve relief to be assisted. While the functions of the Relief Fund dovetail into the work of the boards, they are in a much greater degree complementary. These functions have been carried out with credit to 1 the members of the administrative body, both individually and collectively, and to the benefit of those for which the work is undertaken. Ho those members mentioned in the report as having performed valuable and lengthy service the especial thanks of tne returned! men will be offered, but with' out in any way detracting from the credit due to the other members,\ a word should also be said in praise of the chairman (Mr E. H. Orr) and tne secretary (Mr D. H. Moord) , who devote much time to the control of very helpful work on behalf of returned soldiers.