THE PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 137, 9 June 1917, Page 6

THE PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

SECOND YEAR'S WORK. SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION. £25,000 SPENT IN RELIEF. The second annual report of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, which will be presented at the annual meeting to be held at the. Town H-.ill on Wednesday next, at 2.30 p.m., deals very fully with the operations of the Association during the year ending March 31 last. In a foreword the president (Mr. J. H. Gunson) states that during the period the Association was able to assist a large number of returned soldiers, who had settled in all parts of the province. " Reciprocal arrangements exist with other centres in New Zealand," he says. "The fund has proved invaluable to a large number of soldiers and dependents, and it has assisted many over a period prior to the receipt of pay or pension moneys, which otherwise would have, been one of great hardship. In numerous cases the assistance is continued even after the receipt of a Government pension by the soldier or dependent. The administration is elastic, the object being to afford prompt and practical assistance to those for whom the fund was subscribed by an appreciative public. VARIOUS ACTIVITIES. The report states that the working ot the branches continues to be of a very satisfactory character, and the executive appreciates the harmonious relations which exist between it and the various provincial committees. During the year the Ohura branch has been added, with the consent and approval of the Te Kui-ti ami Taumarunui branches. This addition brings the total number of branches of the Association to 21. The funds of the Ohura committee, amounting to £2278 IS 7. were handed over to the Association. The Discharged Soldier.' Employment Committee, which has iH'cn strengthened by the addition of Mr. James Robertson and Mr. K. F. Andrews, secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association, keeps 111 close touch with tile. Discharged Soldier-i' Employment Bureau established by the. Government, and the latter has expressed its satisfaction with the work of the coin in it tee, which is extensive owing to the fact that more soldiers are registered in Auckland than iv the other centres. The Dis-charged Soldiers' Tuition Committee, set up early in the year, had been little utilised, but its services are available to any returned .man if desired. The work of the Soldiers' Club, the report continues, i-" proving most useful. The club is used by -_ number of men from all parts or the province. Over 40,000 meals have been supplied to members at a nominal cost, and too miich credit cannot be given to the number of Auckland ladies who have assisted in this department. Tho total cost of the club to the Association has been £1225, other receipts making a grand total of £2116. In response to an appeal by the V.M.C.A. early in the year, a donation of £3000 was made for work at the front, and on a second appeal lieing made, the executive recommended an appeal to the public, the magnificent result of which ,ft'as proof of the wisdom of its action. •: : HOSPITAL'COMFORTS.' '' Referring to the Dominion Advisory Hoard, the report states that much good work has been done in co-ordinating the work of the various patriotic associations throughout the Domiilioiwuid by bringing a number of matters under the notice of the .Minister of Defence. A suggestion by the latter that the associations should find £3.000 a month for extra comforts for wounded soldiers in England and elsewhere was given effect to, Auckland paying £730 a month for six months, until, owing to the difficulty of obtaining a satisfactory statement as to the maimer iv which the money was being disbursed, with the knowledge that very considerable balances were in the hands of the Minister of Defence, the High Commissioner, and the New Zealand War Contingent Association, it was decided to discontinue the Auckland quota. The Claims Hoard, which meets twice weekly, dealt with 1.711 rater during the year, necessitating 6,OtJQ payments, aggregating £0741. In addition, the 20 branches of the Association made grants aggregating £4,312 to men in their respective districts. Dealing with local relief, the report pays a tribute to the work voluntarily done by Sister Hannah. Sister Esther, Sister Douglas, Adjutant Cordon, the Rev. F. R. Jeffreys, and Mr. ( . Little. No less than 3,011 eases have been personally investigated, necessitating the making of 8.000 payments in disbursing the sum of fG.OST 0/5. The committee acts as agents for many men ut the front, and received on their account £1,105 4/9 last year. The committee has an average of -ill cases always on its hands, and as the result of its advice and assistance soldiers have been induced t 0 make allotments amounting to many thousands of pounds: monthly. THE FINANCIAL SIDE. The report of the hon. treasurers (Messrs. A. S. Bankart and E. A ''rjig) shows that the "A" (Wounded Soldiers') Fund stood at £326,302 at the beginning of the financial year, during w-hich donations amounting" to £16,703 'were received and £14.130 was earned in interest. A sum of £16.000 was transferred to the '"B" (Local Relief) Fund and disbursements included grants and advances £14.854 (Auckland £0,741 and balance to branches) j remittances tp London for relief of wounded. £4,410; salaries and office charges, £1,262; committee expenses, office furniture,' fees, etc.. £1,1)04; leaving a balance to credit of £320.461.

The "B Fund brought forward a balance of £16,062, which was augmented by the £16.000 referred to, and interest £882. Expenditure included £522 in wages on the Exhibition grounds ar,d Grey Lynn Park, £150 grant to the Plunkct Nurse Society, and relief grants made direct and through seven different agents, the total under all these headings being £6,750, less refunds £1.105. Other expenditure included alteration and equipment of (Soldiers' Club £1,181, V.M.C.A. at front £3.000, together with miscellaneous grants referred to in the annual report. The balance at the end of the year was £21,3130.

The treasurers' return of investments shows £80,000 invested for one year (fixed deposit), £159,384 for one to five years, £0,564 for six to 10 years, £4,53,) for 11 to 15 -years, and £75.900 for 16 to 20 years, the total being £320,354. The securities consist of British Exchequer bonds,. New Zealand Government and local body debentures, the annual interest being £15,644.