A GREAT RECORD.

Northern Advocate, 22 October 1920, Page 4

A GREAT RECORD.

THE PUBLIC GENEROSITY.

VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS

FOR WAR WORK,

A statement showing the amoun'of voluntary contributions by the jjublic in connection with war work from the otbreak of war up to the present year, and th e operations of patriotic societies during the same period, was made to a conference of delegates from New Zealand Patriotic and War Relief Societies by the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. G. J. Anderson. It was as fol-

iows:—

The number of societies operating at the end °f each financial year 1917, 507; 1918, 983; 1919, 881; 3920, 415.

Amount of relief to soldiers and their dependants paid out to March 31st, 1920—Up to March 31st, 1917, £113,726; for year ended March 31st, 1918, £109,746; for year ended March 31st, 1919, £128,367; for year ended March 31st, 1920, £376,895; total, £728,734.

Collection by patriotic societies accounted for from all sources are as under —Up to March 31st, 1917, £2,509,188; for year ended March 31st, 1918, £1,297,033; for year ended March 31st, 1919, £1,060,299; for year ended March 31st, 1920, £581,----471; total, £5,447,991.

Complete statement of voluntary contributions in montey and goods made by the Dominion from the outbreak of war to March 31st 1920— Collected by patriotic societies, £5,447,991; transmitted by Internal Affairs Department from other sources, £69,829; contributed to war expenses at the outbreak of war, £159,137; schools contribution to Belgium, £18,364; goods, comforts, etc, shipped by Internal Affairs on account of donors, £557,536; Government subsidy to Belgian fund, £228,145; t<j|tail, £6,481,002; per head of population, £5 11s 10d.

Disbursements made by patriotic societies for various purposes up to March 31st, 1920—For relief, £728,----734; for equipment, £280,630; for comforts, £1,053,436; for Red Cross purposes, £796,386; "for Belgian relief, £453,598; for other Allies, £90,953; for navy relief, £177,483; for general expenses £325,796 — £3,907,016.

Detailed balances in hand available to meet the needs of soldiers and their dependants as at March 31st, 1920—Incorporated societies, £985,381; administering societies, £130,480; Red Cross and Order of St. John, £212,490; Salvation. Army, V.M.C.A. and church and social funds, £95,080; women's parcel funds, £17,430; overseas funds, £21,----270; Soldiers , Club building funds, £26,710; memorial parks and grounds, £1100; hostel funds, £3970; other societies, £9570; national war funds council, £37,494 — £1,540,975.

The total of patriotic funds available in the Dominion as at March 31st, 1920—1n the hands of th«J trustees of approved war funds, £1,503,481; N.Z. war relief fund, £661; N.Z. hospital ship fund, £248; National War Funds Council, £37,----49 4; convalescent homes account, £1282; war expenses contribution account, £1437; N.Z. comforts account, £1475; sundry small'•accounts, £86—£1,546,164;