PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 308, 5 October 1940, Page 3

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

APPEAL ON POPULATION BASIS. SUGGESTED METHOD OF COLLECTION. A suggestion made by Mr E. Frampton at a meeting of the Works Committee of the Ashburton County Council was referred to by Mr S. P. Taylor at a meeting of the newly-formed Patriotic Executive for the Ashburton County, Borough and Tinwald zone yesterday afternoon. Mr Frampton had said that in view of the difficulty the farming community might have in making straight-out donations in the present season when their income was practically nil, it might be possible for them to make promises, the full amount of which could be paid by say March 31. The chairman (Dr. J. Connor) and other members expressed approval of the idea and it was decided to ask the Provincial Patriotic Council if this scheme could be adopted to meet the district’s share of the £1,600,000 appeal for the Dominion. The suggestion was stated to present som<s difficulties and if funds could he raised, immediately it was to the good. The County Clerk (Mr G. Kelly) outlined the opinion of the County Council on the organisation of the new appeal. He read the recommendation approving the allocation of the appeal over the ridings of the County, patriotic committees being asked to raise funds.

The chairman said that a meeting to set up a patriotic committee would he held in the Borough on Monday evening. The following motion was carried: “That in the opinion of the. Zone Executive the appeal be allocated over the' County, Borough and Tinwald on a population basis, and that inter-zone or patriotic committees he asked to undertake the raising of funds.” It was decided that representatives of all patriotic committees should meet in the Borough Council Chambers at 3 p.m. next Friday to consider organising the appeal. The chairman said that the aim was to raise as much as possible through the various committees, and that if at the end all of the £13,000 had not been raised, to hold a big united effort of Borough, County and Tinwald to meet the outstanding amount.

Mr J. Carr said that at Methven residents were being asked to make a monthly contribution. A similar system was: in operation at Lyndhurst and had proved highly successful. EXPENDITURE DETAILED. THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS. WELLINGTON, October 4. Au outstanding feature of the accounts for the first complete year of operation presented to the standing committee of the National Patriotic Fund Board at a meeting to-day was the low cost of administration. During the year the hoard received from all sources contributions amounting to £743,996. The cost of administering those funds was only £BB9 10s sd. Included in this sum were the travelling expenses to England of the board’s overseas commissioner, Lieut.Colonel F. Waite. The administration expenses work out at one-tenth per cent of the total amount received, or 2s pei £IOO of contributions handled.

Tbe main items of expenditure relate to grants for the provision of amenities and comforts within Ncav Zealand. The joint council of the Order of St. John and the N.Z. Bed Cross Society has had for this purpose £11,500, the Salvation Army £13,559. the Y.M.C.A. £35,999, the Church oi England Military Affairs Committee £3OOO, and the Catholic War Service Fund £3695. ' Part of the moneys in these accounts Avas for erecting and equipping recreation lints in military camps. When audited statements from these organisations are received these huts and equipment, Avhicli are the property of the board, Avill he incorporated in the board’s accounts. The hoard took over the assets and liabilities of the Church of England Military Affairs Committee and the Catholic War Service Fund at the end of June, and Avhen these audited statements are received the assets and liabilities of the organisations Avill also be incorporated in the board’s accounts. The folloAving are details of expenditure on comforts

Convoys for troops £B7l, troops in New Zealand £lßl2, troops overseas £4129, Ist Echelon £1692, 2nd Echelon £2364, 3rd Echelon £1990, regimental funds £986, sick and wounded £5392, Air Force relations organisation £1527 15s 9d. Remittances Overseas. Grants overseas include: Too-H, London, £500; Salvation Army, London, £622 10s; Y.W.C.A., London, £2501 ; Victoria League, London, £25; lied Cross organisations £15,572; Lord Mayor of London’s Relief of Distress Fund, £IOO,OOO. In addition, amounts have been remitted for contingency funds for the provision of comforts for the New Zealand forces overseas. The amounts sent in this way are: Egypt, £6735; England, £6225; sick and wounded, Egypt, £6250; sick and wounded, England, £12,450. Other expenditure includes £1729 for military bands for the purchase of equipment, £97 for library service for the troops, £561 for the Lady Galway Guild, £176 for the Navy League, and £I3OO for the purchase oi a hostel for the Papakura camp, Auckland. Comforts in stock are valued at £1935. Investments comprise £60,000 on fixed deposit with the trading banks and £420,000 in Treasury bills. Cash in hand amounts to £lO 18s sd. In the bank account there is £15,454 6s 4d. The present state of the na tional fund is £495,465. Part of the amount remitted for the relief of distress in London will be repaid to the board, through the splen-

did response made by the people of the Dominion. The total expenditure shown to date is £248,531, but in this amount is included money that has been sent overseas for contingency purposes and has not yet been spent. A large proportion of the expenditure is nonrecurring. The account as presented did not include sundry credits and debtors, or interest accrued but not due, which will have to be brought into the board’s balance-sheet for the year.