LIBERALITY URGED

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 223, 16 June 1932, Page 8

LIBERALITY URGED

Returned Soldiers and Canteen Funds £lOOO A MONTH GIVEN A question that is causing much epntroversial feeling among the returned soldiers of the Dominion was discussed at the annual meeting of the Wellington Returned Soldiers Association last evening, when it was mentioned that the Canteen Trust Funds Board had made substantial grants to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association, “for which it was deeply sriitef ul.” ° The president of the association, Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Avery, said that the board had been and was *e ing attacked for not spending more on relief during the present time of widespread distress. He wished t point out, however, that for the year ended March 31. 1932 the had provided £16,192, which was £5OOO in excess of its annual revenue. The principal of the funds, proceeded Lieutenant-Colonel Avery, was on y £200,000, and if anyone could tell him that the funds could be better spent than by using the interest, as was bein’ done, at the rate of £lOOO a month, well, he had something new to leain g ffect of Distribution.

The tendency at the moment was to demand that capital funds be distributed, but, carried out fullJ- that would mean about 6/8 apiece_for each of those entitled to benefit. The posi tion in New Zealand was that the various patriotic fuixlsweresteaddy coming to an end, and when tney were finished the canteen funds would be the only money supply on which returned men could draw; therefore the board wished as far as possib to keep the principal intact. Mr. J.’Shand, .former vice-president, said that the canteen funds had been collected by the Diggers and for the Diggers. Fourteen years ago, when he had taken part in selling canteen goods to the men on the home-coming t ro °P" ship he had been told that the funds were for their benefit. If ever there Zls a time in New Zealand when the funds could be entrenched upon—not dissipated—that time was the Present. The occasion called for far more line alitv. The Kaitangata cola-mine tuna provided an example of the results of holding on to such moneys. That fund had been established for the benefit of people who were now dead, yet it was still in existence. He suggested that the grant might be increased to £2OOO a month. Remits Favour Increase. Mr W. Perry, vide-president of the New Zealand R.S.A., said the question was to come before the annual conference of the Dominion organisation. A number of remits favouring an increase in the outlay already had been received. He asked the meeting to remember, however, that, had it not been for the policy of the board in 1918 and t 919» ■when a move for a holus-bolus distribution had been resisted, the funds would not be in existence to-day. Nevertheless, he hoped that if it were found possible to distribute more this would be done.