EX-SOLDIERS' RELIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 226, 23 September 1932, Page 5

EX-SOLDIERS' RELIEF.

PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION. EMPLOYMENT FOR SICK AND FIT. "A steady maintenance of the number of applications emphasises the valuable nature of the fund, which continues to be greatly appreciated by the large number of men or,, dependents concerned," stated a report of the claims board to the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association yesterday afternoon. Since the last meeting *in August the sum of 89 * had been dispensed from the " A fond (sick and wounded soldiers' fund). Of 4074 applications made for assistance, 3234 were granted, 124 deferred, and 7Hi declined. Of the sum mentioned, £1899 was spent in subsidising soldiers on relief Work. Difficulty in distributing the unemployment funds from the National War Rel'ief Funds Council equitably was mentioned by Mr. E. Phelan. A report showed that during the current quarter £1022 had been received from the council, and it had been used in the employment of men under the direction of the City Council engineer, and in that way the claims board, had met the needs of the men to the best of its ability. At the present time there were no funds, and the work of assisting fit returned men had necessarily been discontinued.

Mr. Phelan commented that if the association received regular contributions from the fund it would know where it stood in regard to distribution. Mr. V. J. Larner said that at the recent meeting of the council in Wellington the sum of £10,000 had been granted for distribution in the centres, but that would not go very far. After members had acknowledged the splendid co-operation of the • National Council, it was decided to write to it setting out the position in Auckland and asking for regular grants to be made either monthly or six-monthly. The financial committee's statement showed a balance of £83,966 at May 31, and £81,705 at the end of August. At the present rate of disbursement the capital fund would" bo depleted during the current financial year by approximately £12,000, in addition to. the spending of the revenue from interest on investments from the capital fund.