WAR RELIEF FUNDS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11383, 8 December 1930, Page 7

WAR RELIEF FUNDS

SHARP INCREASE IN

HOW LONG WILL MONEYS LAST?

(Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5

An alarming position of the Dominion funds for war relief is, repealed by. the fact -that, during the •month just past, the applications to the Wellington War Relief Association have been greater by 50 per jc'ent.: than those for the same period last year. • That claims can rise so sharply reveals the fact that, unless measures are taken soon to remedy the position. an unfortunate position will be reached wherein soldiers who have served overseas and have broken down in health in later years will have no source from which assistance, may be expected to come, For the past four years, the Wellington War Relief Association, in its annual report, has drawn attention to the fact that the number of applications received by it from discharged men has been steadily mounting, aiid has pointed out that this may lie expected to continue. A certain number of the applications now being made are traced to prevailing economic conditions. But, even, so, in the view of the Wellington body, from five to 10 years must pass before the number of men wishing for relief reaches its peak. With advancing years more and more men are expected to feel the effect of war disabilities, but at a period so removed Lom the original mishap that'their claims for an official pension arc not capable of being proven. Where these men have long service, however, the War Relief bunds are . devoted to their assistance.

The position is not brighter in the light of experience with Boer War veterans* There were 10,001 'New Zealanders sent overseas to South Africa and claims are still being received from them. The number of troops enlisted for the Great War was ICO,007, while the casualty rate was 37 per cent, against 1 per cent, in South Africa. The claims fire thus expected to extend over a greater period than those of South African veterans, inasmuch that many of the men in the last war were only 20 years of ago when they enlisted: A conservative estimate places, the limit of-any .considerable number of claims for relief as the result of war' disability as about 1958. But. whereas the claims will continue for another 13 years, an actuarial investigation into the state of War Funds in the Dominion, as at 1927, made at the instance of Mr. Downio Stewart when he was Minister of Internal Affairs, revealed that known sources, at the rate of. capital claims existing over the past three years, could not last,for more than 14 years—that is available war relief funds would be exhausted by 1941. But, since that date, the number of claims has shown a steady increase, which must affect the date of exhaustion, and the prevailing economic conditions bring still nearer'the time ■when..there will bo no further funds available. It is calculated now, that there cannot be funds-for needy exsoldiers alter 1940 at the Very latest. Probably, the date is closer than that.

These calculations, of course, do not include the moneys now held by the Canteen Funds Board, which invested its funds after the war, anticipating ..this very state ;of affairs. However, from present knowledge, it appears.-..that these funds alone-’will prove inadequate -and it is considered that steps should ho taken to establish. a fund which will he available for the decade: eight or ten years •hence, when it is calculated that needy returned men will he most numerous and there will be no money to aid them.