FUTURE POLICY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 263, 2 August 1941, Page 13

FUTURE POLICY

Distribution Of War Funds

Discussion regarding present and future relief took place at the annual meeting of the National War Council in Wellington on Wednesday. The position had been closely investigated by the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and the Canteen II und It was the considered opinion that relief will be sought for the next 15 years at least, and the council, as the cential body, will be called upon by district associations to supply funds to allow them to continue their activities. It was held that, though the need for assistance was not so marked this y ear » in the near future the demand wifi be more in evidence and it was important that funds be so expended that associations will be 'able to assist throughout the period relief is required. At the end of the present war many of the old soldiers who are filling the places ot the younger men who have enlisted will nu doubt lose their positions and look to the returned soldiers’ and patriotic associations for help. Viewing the whole position, the policy decided upon was that while according the present help required, it was essential that the funds be so controlled that relief may be available in the years to come when it will prove of great benefit. The statement of accounts disclosed that the accumulated fund now stands at £79,183 and trusts at £14,916. The transactions for the year show an excess of income of £6677, but this is due to the transfer of the funds of the Auckland Patriotic Association, and had this transfer not been effected an excess of expenditure of £lO3B would have been shown. Trusts accounts were increased by a small bequest and interest earned, but the expenditure practically equalled income. The Government approved of a further £250 for the benefit of veterans of the South African War, and this sum was’disbursed through the New’ Zealand South African War Veterans’ Association. During the year a grant of £2OO was made available by the trustees of the J. 11. McKenzie Trust Board and was allocated to the four metropolitan districts. The expenditure on assistance, £4056, showed a small decline, compared with last year, mainly due to war conditions now prevailing, with the consequent demand for labour. The vote for unemployment relief was discussed and a sum of £3OOO authorized for the year, the executive being given power to expend a higher sum if warranted. ■ Reference was made to expenditure of trust funds, the chairman reporting that arrangement have been made to assist certain cases of post-war blindness and further expenditure will be made in this respect. Similar action is to be taken concerning the widows’ and orphans' trust, power being given the executive to make further disbursements from the trust.