"OBVIOUSLY AN ERROR."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19665, 8 July 1929, Page 5

"OBVIOUSLY AN ERROR."

GENERAL BOOTH'S FINANCES. (PMSB ASSOCIATION TXHtQRXU.) AUCKLAND, July 6. Commissioner Hay, Head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand and President of the High Council, commenting on the cabled statement that General Booth died penniless, says: "The statement that he had an income of £SOOO a year from a Trust Fund is obviously an error. It can only be intended to mean £SOO a year, as anyone placed as General Booth was could not be penniless had he been in receipt of £SOOO a year. We know what was the nature of his disbursements. The implication that there was great poverty is quite misleading. It may not have been affluence or abundance, but there was nothing like poverty, as it is usually understood. The suggestion that the education of his children was dependent on relatives is also quite misleading. Personally I found it difficult to believe that either Mrs Booth or the family are responsible for these statements, and I know that the friends of the Army who provided trust funds for the General's allowance would be greatly pained at the suggestion."

THE GENERAL'S ESTATE. (Received July Bth, 12.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 7. General Booth's will shows that he left £913 to his wife absolutely. He had originally appointed his successor as sole executor last March, but left a codicil appointing hi.s wife, daughter. and solicitor. His widow will continue to receive £3OO yearly from the Trust Fund which was provided for the General by his yotsonal friends.—Australian Press Association.