Lottery proceeds disbursment list

Press, 20 February 1980, Page 29

Lottery proceeds disbursment list

,? Wellington reporter Lotteries and the disposal of their proceeds are. big business in New Zealand. The Lotteries Board had $6,645,000 to dispose of in the .year ended March 31, 1979. Yet even • this sum, plus $36,859 for late-claim prizes and $62,420 for administrative expenses, left $2,636,000 in unallocated funds. All the unallocated funds were transferred to the general reserve fund which now stands at $5,748,000. The total of $6,645,000 allocated falls into eight categories — $700,000 for the welfare of aged persons, $BOO,OOO for welfare services, $300,000 for medical research, $300,000 for scientific research, $600,000 to the Queen ' Elizabeth II Arts Council, $500,000 to the Film Commission, $3,095,000 for B eneral purposes, and 350,000 distributed at the discretion of the Minister of Internal affairs. Aged welfare

Total assistance given during the year was: $149,618 to welfare councils (plus $50,000 provisional grants),. $17,255 to old folk’s clubrooms (plus $63,02 5 provisional grands), $240,300 to old people’s homes, $25,463 to community halls and daycare centres (plus $54,750 provisional grants) and $21,000 miscellaneous.

The provisional grants -were either for subsidy of extensions and alterations to clubrooms or for assistance towards the erection of community halls near old people’s accommodation. The $240,300 was paid to religious and welfare organisations to help furnish old people’s homes or to meet a shortfall in building costs. Help was also given with, the upgrading of pensioner units. Welfare services Major grants made during the year were: $82,000 to the Prisoners Aid and Rehabilitation Society, $40,000 to the National Marriage Guidance Council, $35,000 to the St John Ambulance Association,

$37,300 to the Catholic Social Services, $40,000 to the Society for the Intellectually Handicapped, $25,000 to the health camps, $26,000 to the Laura Fergusson Trust Board and $19,000 to You<h for Christ. . Other notable beneficiaries were: $13,500 to the Red Cross, $lO,OOO to the St Vincent de Paul Society, $13,000 to Community Volunteers, $7OOO to the Seafarers Welfare Board, $9600 to the Plunket Society, $4OOO to the Play Centre Federation, $lO,OOO to Birthright, $7OOO to the Motherhood of Man Movement, $BOOO to Grow (a community mental health movement), $5OOO to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, $12,000 to the Federation of Societies of the Protection of Home and Family, $4500 to Nazareth House (Christchurch), $4OOO to the Canterbury Sheltered Workshop, and $15,000 -to the Federation for Deaf Children. Scientific research T w e n t y-eight grants were made and the biggest of $15,000 was to the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society to research the habitat of a rare and endangered bird — £he kokako (blue-wat-tled crow). The Christchurch Arts Centre received $l5OO towards the costs in restoring Lord Rutherford’s den. A grant of $BOOO was made to the University of Canterbury towards the cost of test equipment, electric motors and .components to enable the department of electrical engineering to continue its work on the electric car.

Medical research Major research projects being supported include: the study of immunology and genetics tissue transplantation, research on diabetics education and social programmes, investigation of the role of insulin in foetal development, and studies in detailed kidney function. General purposes The grants made were: $300,000 to the Historic

Places Trust, $60,000 to the Litter Control Council, $15,000 to the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Board, $150,000 to the Surf Lifesaving Association, $20,000 to the Water Safety Council, $lBO,OOO to the Mountain Safety Council, $600,000 to the Community Development Fund, $40,000 for the capital development of theatres and concert auditorial, $30,000 to conservation of art objects, $370,000 to the special fund for cultural nurposes, $7OOO to the local Authorities Community Facilities’ Fund, $30,000 to the Maori Purposes Fund (for small marae projects) and $60,001 for the Achilles gun turret. The I ocal Authorities Community Fund was established recently to provide finance to encourage local authorities to provide facilities needing capital. The demand for money far outstripped the Lotteries Board’s capacity. The Community Development Fund is intended to promote the development and strengthening of community life. Funds were given for projects such as community facilities at schools, the family recreation programme of the Council of Recreation and Sport, and community development worker subsidy grants and salaries.

Ministerial discretion

The Minister may consider applications for help which fall within tne ambit of legislation but not within the purview of any of the major allocation channels.

He made 38 grants, including: $15,000 for riding for the disabled, $30,000 for the international year of the child, $30,000 to the National Band of New Zealand, $20,000 for the Sports Foundation, $B5OO for the Canterbury recompression chamber, $5OOO to the Crafts Council, $7OOO to Michael King for a biography of a former Prime Minsiter, Peter Fraser, and $lO,OOO for the Polynesia festival.