PATRIOTIC FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18354, 11 March 1920, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUND.

QUESTION OF ADEQUACY. The executive of the Oanterfrary Patriotic Fund yesterday afternoon again discussed the position of the fund and its adequacy to meet future demands. The Adequacy of Fund Committee reported that it hfjcl reviewed the financial position in tne light of tho past six months' expenence/Tuid found_ that in certain directions th©' administration was more liberal than expected when it made its previous report. It submitted the following recommendations for the guidance of committees empowered to administer relief and assistance:—<l) After applications for repatriation grants and loans now before the Agricultural Committee and the Trades and Professions Committee had been considered, no further applications for repatriation grants should be considered, as the claims in hand would absorb th© funds allocated for th© purpose. (2) Grants authorised for the purchase of furniture had exceeded the committee's estimate, but it considered that disbursements under that heading might be continued for some but furniture grants should be restricted to applicants whose claims were lodged within twelve months of "the date of their discharge from the Expeditionary Force, except in the case of those suffering from some disability caused by military .service which were entitled to Bpodial consideration,, pjrrespeotiive of the date when th© applications were received or of the date of applicants' discharge from the force. (3) in regard to totally and partially incapacitated soldiers, and to a letter from the Advisory Board dated January 20 last, the secretary should be instructed to furnish the Advisory Board with full particulars as to what had been done already by the fund for eases coming under that heading during the past throe or four years, and also as to what was proposed to be done by the fund in the future. The committee's Focommendatiosuß were adopted*

MEETING OP EXECUTIVEThe executive of the Canterbury Patriotic Fund met yesterday afternoon, Mr Cyrus Williams presiding over an attendance of ten members.

Mr F. W. Hobbs moved that the Adequacy of Fund Committee should be given authority to deal with applications for capital advances or grants from seriously or permanently disabled soldiers, in all cases where the sum exceeded £T>O, the committee's recommends tiou to bp confirmed by the executive, in special emergency the committee to have power to act up -to £3OO.

Mr F. Horrell seconded the motion. which was carried, and it was decided that tho committee should have power to deal with applications for capital advances from dependants of deceased soldiers.

Mr J. Coe, Irwell, wrote stating that ho regretted that he could not withdraw his resignati6n from the executive.

A letter was received from the Returned Soldiers' Association nominating Mr W. E. Leadley as its representative on the executive.

Tho treasurer reported that the financial position was as follows:

Total payments to February 29 FuKds invested 'end in hand— Mortgig-os and debentures . "War l<Nan inscribed stcck sad cortifiaatoa Promissory roto on n«nd Secretary's imprest account . Less account overdrawn at bwk £ B 151,030 6 73,160 0 1,065 0 125 0 ■1,728 3 d 6 0 0 0 8 229,693 10" 17,487 11 2 0 Total in fund , , . 212,210 19 2