BRITISH SEAMEN

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 58, 9 March 1923, Page 4

BRITISH SEAMEN

WAR WORK REMEMBERED NEW ZEALAND SHEEPOWNEES' ASSISTANCE: The annual report of the New Zealand I Sheepowners'. Acknowledgment of Debt |to British. Seamen Fund for the year i ended 50th September last, which was presented at the annual meeting held yesterday, shows that throughout the year 348 cases were considered, and the following represented the extent of the assistance given:—Grants, £4300 15s 8d; loans, £1148; expenditure authorised, but not yet met: Grants, £523; loans, £2016. "In dealing with applications for assistance," stateß the report, "great care has been taken by the Applications Committee to adhere, strictly to tho object^ I for which the fund was subscribed: Some' ! cases, however, came under notice in which sailors with families dependent upon them, who had long and meritorious war service afloat, had found themI selves in necessitous circumstances as the \ result of illness or some misfortune not associated with war service, and authority has been obtained from the Minuter in charge of the War Funds Office to render assistance to cases of this nature. There, however, require to be special circumstances in evidence before relief can be afforded in such instances and limited assistance only can be given towards meeting the most urgent and immediate need of the applicant. "Owing to the financial depression through which the Dominion is at present passing, and other untoward circumstauces operating, there are now a considerable numbor of. seafaring men out 6f vflprkj and it has also been found that many sailors who in normal times would be able 1 to find suitable employment are nov* unable J^obtfiin work on account of physical impairment resulting from service during the war. "During the year,.B62 applications for assistance were dealt with, involving expenditure in the form of relief grants of £15,461 4s 9d. The London Advisory Committee has been working ■ in conjunction with other organisations which cater for the needs of seamen. The organisations have undertaken to investigate claims for assistance on behalf of the inriA, and to submit reports on same to the committee, and the grants authorised by the committee in respect to the cases submitted have been; distributed amongst the beneficiaries by the organisations interested. A detailed audited statement of receipts and payments for the year received from London is appended to the report." '