CHARITABLE FUNDS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25134, 15 March 1947, Page 7

CHARITABLE FUNDS

Sir, —Skipper Francis published a statement in the “Otago Daily Times” about three years ago, according to which his fund was £5OOO. Correspondents suggested in the same newspaper last year that another statement was overdue, and Mr Francis replied, signing himself as sole administrator, that he would say nothing, but “trust in God.” Advertisements of his frequently refer to the Carrie Jacobs Bond Cottage. Therefore, as Mr Francis is now in Christchurch, I will ask him to answer the following:— How many cripples has he given sanctuary to in this Carrie Jacobs Bond Cottage in the last seven years? —Yours, etc., PRO BONO PUBLICO. March 8, 1947,-

Skipper W. W. Francis writes: “When your correspondent has the backbone to give his or her name and address, I may condescend to send our balance-sheets for every year since we were established, showing exactly where the 45,176 cripples and their helpers have benefited, including our guests who have enjoyed free holidays in our Carrie Jacobs-Bond Cottage at Brighton, as well as all over New Zealand by train, bus, car ferry on Auckland harbour, Wellington harbour, Dunedin harbour, Stewart Island, Wanganui river, ’ Franz .. Josef Glacier and Mount Cook, as well'as on the new ship Hinemoa, not to mention thousands of flowers to hospital and sick-room patients and special treatment of hot sea baths and massage to chronic cases, that have been unable to pay for them out of their pensions or social security benefits. Thank God, there are sufficient people of goodwill wherever I to keep this work going so far, and I still trust in God, and them, to continue, for every penny upwards that is put in our tins is banked and operated upon by our honorary trustees and myself.”