MONEY FOR SOLDIERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 112, 5 February 1919, Page 6

MONEY FOR SOLDIERS

BIG SUMS IN HAND ..

QUESTIONS FOR DECISION

Now that the war is over there will doubtless be a good deal of curiosity on the part of the public as to tho fate of the several funds held by various bodies which were raised for the relief, succour, and benefit of the men who helped to win the war and their dependants. According to a return prepared ' after Armistice Day (November 11) by the War Funds Branch of the Internal Affairs DeVartment,' there was at that time a sum -if £1.835,000 held by the various warbom societies in New Zealand. Of that imount-£1,420,000 was held by war-re-lief associations .throughout.the Dominion, which bodies have been thrown into a state of quickened activity through the arrival back in New Zealand of so many men during tlie last six weeks: A? the duties of such bodies are fairly dearly di'fined-to help soldiers and their dependants who are actually in need of helpit is not anticipated that they will have too much money for the needs of the next two or three years, particularly as it is not likely that there will be any accretions to the funds by way of voluntary subscription now that the war is over, or until the need of more money is made manifest. There are, liowever. other funds, the fate of which/'will have to be determined in the near future. The tanks of the War Funds Branch show that thore was in November last £227,000 held on account of soldiers , comforts-comforts for soldiers in the camp, field, or hospital, the greater part of which should bo I,available for other purposes beneficial to, 'the soldiers. There was in November a sum of £111,000 held by the Red Cross Society, whose duties practically ceased with the termination of the.war, and the clearing of the New Zealand hospitals in France and England. In addition to tliose moneys there are smaller sums collected by other bodies, such as the Navy League, who still will have the opportunity of disbursing them in strict accordance with the purpose for which they were raised. •In the case of tho National War Funds Council a sum, approximating £35,000, subscribed for patriotic purposes, will have to be allocated in the near future to some object of benefit to the soldiers. A meeting of the council will be held shortly, at which, it is probable, suggestions may be put ■forward as to the u?e these, moneys may be put. It has been suggested that there may be overlapping here and there in connection with the work of the repatriation boards and the war relief associations. The matter was" mentioned yesterday to the local repatriation officer (Mr. C. Batten), who was not inclined to think that Hie activities would collide. "We do not give relief," said Mr. Batten, "we seek to-prevent the need of it." He did not mean that the Iward wished in any way to prevent relief being given wlrere needed, but the aim of the board would be to help returned soldiers to help themselves, so that other relief would not be necessary. ,