WAR RELIEF FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 12

WAR RELIEF FUNDS

Heavy Drain Upon Local Association APPROACHING DEPLETION In 1920 the Wellington War Relief Association, following a meeting of representatives of soldier and war relief organisations, decided to allocate its funds, 75 per cent, to the needs of disabled soldiers called the "A” fund,, and 25 per cent, to men without disability, called the "B” fund. At that time there were 2130 permanent war pensioners in New Zealand. In March, 1932. the numher had increased to 9504, the reserves in “A” fund have been reduced by more than half, and the “B” fund was exhausted last year. Under favourable conditions the “A” fund will be exhausted in seven years, possibly sooner. Up to March 31 of this year the National War Funds Council has, since 1927, distributed £42,785 to all the patriotic organisations in the Dominion. The War Relief Association received £0456, which has been expended in 2538 individual payments on 4072 applications. The annual allocation to the War Relief funds from the National War Funds Council is approximately £lBOO, and the average number of applicants about 1000. ‘ National War Funds. To keep the “B” fund going, the National War Funds Council remits such payments to the War Relief Association in common with other patriotic bodies to relieve unemployment distress to which many returned men are subject, otherwise the War Relief Association could not do anything for those men. It has to be remembered that the War Relief Association is not in any way a charitable organisation, but is the trustee of war funds for sick and wounded soldiers. Although the “A” fund will be exhausted in seven years, the aftermath of the war will probably be felt for at least, another 29 years. There is also the Canteen Fund, which has nothing to do with the War Relief Association. This fund consists of the soldiers’ own money, and is under the control of the Canteen and Regimental Trust Funds Board. Because of the depression in 1931 the trustees decided to grant £lOO9 a month for an indefinite period for administration by various returned soldiers' associations. In August. .1932, because of the continued depression, the Canteen Fund increased its allocation to the R.S.A.’s throughout the Dominion to £l5OO a month, and this is being continued. £150,000 For Unemployment. Since 1927 the total moneys distributed by the National War Funds Council and the Canteen Board for the relief of unemployed returned soldiers amount in round figures to £150.000. which does not include grants made to patriotic associations for sick ami wounded soldiers, which are a charge on “A” fund. A satisfactory feature so far as the War Relief Association is concerned is that there is no overlapping on its part of the work done by charitable organisations. It supplies the R.S.A. organisations with the names and particulars of the assistance given in each case, and this is reciprocated by the R.S.A. Further, carbon copies of the meetings of the Applications Committee of the War Relief Association, with the names of the soldiers and the relief given, are forwarded to the Social Welfare Committee, the Red Cross Society, and the Smith Family. At the meeting of the War Relief Association yesterday it was reported,that the total funds available on March 31 were £19,178/6/2. of which £18.660 is locked up in investments, and £578/6/2 in current accounts, ami in cash in band. In March expenditure amounted to £456/16/10. and income to £199/3/-, leaving £257/13/10 Io be debited to capital account.