PATRIOTIC BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 220, 28 June 1943, Page 6

PATRIOTIC BOARD.

FIGURES FOR EIGHT MONTHS.. Payments by the National Patriotic Fund Board for the first eight months of the Board’s current year totalled £816,054. Receipts during this period which ended on May 31, amounted to £755,289. Cash balances at the end of May were £55,979 in' the general account and £1149 in the imprest account. The payments comprised £568,837 for general purposes, £53,549 for sick and wounded!, and £193,668 on behalf of prisoners of war. Expenditure from the general account on comforts for troops overseas included £4705 for men in England. £13.059 for Egypt, and £20,195 for the forces in the Pacific. In addition the following imprests for the purchase of comforts and amenities for New Zealanders were remitted overseas —£50,000 to England, £61,390 to Egypt, £3395 to the Pacific, £283 to Canada, £l9O to Ceylon, and! £.175 to Australia. Ingredients purchased for the manufacture of ice cream for the New Zealanders in the Middle East cost, £2478. Contributions to the London distress fund and overseas organisations during the eight months totalled £39.352.

The cost of comforts for troops in New Zealand was £8839, and the value of stock purchased for issue as required, including overseas was £42,476. The sum of £1893 was spent mi. the war library service. Another big item was £24,288 for the provision of recreation liuts, marquees, etc., in respect of which an additional £143 was spent for maintenance and repairs. Grants to agents of the Board in New Zealand included £7OOO to the Catholic War Services Fund Board, £32,000 to the Church of England Military Affairs Committee, £29,000 to the Salvation Army, and £105,000 to the Y.M.O.A.

The Board’s administration expenses totalled £1133 14s 9d.