AUCKLAND PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1926, Page 16

AUCKLAND PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

(To the Editor! Sir, —Will you kindly allow mc space to ask a few questions in reference to the disposal and allotment of relief by the trustees of the above fund. Aa we all know, this money was raised for the purpose of alleviating distress among partially disabled returned soldiers. I will quote my case: About three years ago my war pension expired, and as I wa9 then in regular employment and able to live without the and of this pension, I did not consider I was justified in remaining a burden on the State, so made no appeal to the Pensions Department for renewal. My health is such that I am unable to do other than light work. As I have been unemployed for the past five months,, and being unable to get a job that will suit my health conditions, I have made application to have my pension, renewed, and am now awaiting a decision. Being up against it financially, I made application to the Patriotic Society for assistance for myself, wife and children, but was turned down. Now, sir, to have, to appeal for pecuniary help was in itself a great ordeal and was done only after my pride was shoved deep in my pocket. To add to my grievance I saw others at the patriotic office getting money which, judging by their type, would be pushed over the bar at the nearest pub. In fact, I heard one say to his mate as he was pocketing his "win": "Meet mc in the public bar of the Hotel." These had been assisted whilst I was not allowed a cent to buy food or help pay the rent. Ido not know how the gentlemen on the board arrive at their decisions. I did not see any of them, but was informed by one of the official? that my appeal was declined because I had no war disability— presumably because I was not in receipt of a pension. I ask you who -was the most entitled to a little help, mc without a pension and up against it, or the fellow with the pension, who was goin" to meet his cobber in the bar of the Hotel? I would like to ask the gentlemen who are in charge of the fund if they would make public the answers to the following questions: (1) What salaries are paid to the members of the office staff? (2) How many are employed and is the number warranted for the amount of business done as compared with a private business concern? (3) Is it necessary to have such a huge building to house the association? (4) The weekly rental of the building? (5) Are the male employees returned soldiers and are they New Zealanders? It seemed to mc on this, my first visit to the society's premises, that the administration charges were likely to be out of all proportion to the work done.—l am,, etc., , JWELV-J BAR,