PATRIOTIC FUND GRANTS

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28314, 27 June 1957, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUND GRANTS

Assistance For K-Force Men It was now the responsibility of the Canterbury Provincial Patriotic Council to consider all applications for assistance from former Commonwealth servicemen who had served overseas in any emergency, said the acting chairman (Mr-W. S. Mac Gibbon) at the annual meeting of the council yesterday. He was commenting on the recent amendment to the Patriotic and Canteen Funds Act, which provided for the granting of assistance to K Force men.. He said that grants to former K Force men would now have to come from the provincial patriotic councils’ funds instead of from Government funds, and would not be refundable except where grants exceeded £lOO. Mr E. C. Bathurst (Ashburton) said he was very gratified to see that World War I men were being catered for as well as those who served in World War 11. “I am glad to see that these funds have now been amalgamated.” The standing committee reported that during the year grants amounting to £15.385 15s 4d were made by the council throughout the province, and in addition the council had spent £1738 10s 7d on supplying and distributing hospital comforts. Grants Made Grants amounting to £4332 10s lOd were made by the Metropolitan Welfare Committee to 491 World War II men; 85 other applications were referred to the standing committee, and 34 were declined. Of 528 applications for assistance by World War I men. 460 were approved and grants amounting to £3026 10s 2d were made; 12 cases were declined and 55 referred to the standing committee.

Grants made by the standing committee in cases referred by the Metropolitan Welfare Committee amounted to £3376 2s 6d (World War II), and £l9OB Ils (World War I). In 29 cases referred by country committees grants totalling £1641 15s lid were made to former servicemen of both wars.

Country committees reported having, made 77 grants, amounting to £llOO 4s lid. Mr Mac Gibbon, who acted as chairman in the ausence of the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane. M.P.), said it was hoped that before long a new wing would be built on the Rannerdale Home. No accommodation was at present available for former servicewomen, but -it was hoped that the old Homestead when renovated could be used for this purpose.