SERVICING OF FORGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 138, 13 June 1942, Page 6

SERVICING OF FORGES

ONE ACCOUNT OVERDRAWN

■' A statement placed before'- -" this week's meeting of the National Patriotic Fund Board, covering the eight months from October 1 last year to the end of May this year, showed that it had been necessary, in order to make adequate provision for New Zealand prisoners of war, to overdraw the prisoners of war account by £44,578, this money having had to be provided from general funds. New Zealand prisoners of war now total more than 6000. i At the end of May the board's net credit balance was £38,203, but at that date £654,520 was owing by the provincial patriotic councils on their budget quotas for the current year. Since the end of May, however, the total has been reduced somewhat by payments received from the provincial councils. Purchases of wool made during the eight months on behalf of the provincial councils, which reimburse the board, amounted to £23.022. -Imprests remitted to Egypt for the New Zealand Forces amounted to £13.942, to England £40,000, Fiji £7334. and to Canada £1708. In addition, approximately £19.000 was spent on comforts for New Zealanders in these four theatres, plus the expenditure of a further £57,639 in the case of the men in the Middle East for stock for the New Zealand Forces Club. Cairo, and £7500 for stock for mobile and other canteens. The proceeds of the sale of stock are also made available for the benefit of the forces through the board's commissioner, in lieu of additional remittances fom New Zealand. To enable them to carry out their welfare work on behalf of the board, the V.M.C.A. received £50,000, Church of England Military Affairs Committee £22,000, Salvation Army £16,000, Catholic War Services Fund Board £11,205, and the Navy League, £200. To me.et additional requirements arising from the calling up of more men for home defence duty, £3813 was spent on recreation institutions and £331 on marquees. Another £33,000 will be required to cover the cost of contracts for institutions that have been let. Grants of £5076 out of the general funds and £3750 out of the sick and wounded fund were made to overseas organisations for, the relief of distress. The total payments made in. the eight months under review serve to indicate the wide service being given and the need for substantial funds. The payments under ' their several" headings were as follows:—General £318,105, sick and wounded £61,951, prisoners of | war £78,858, a grand total of £458,914.