PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17649, 9 December 1920, Page 8

PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES.

SURPLUS FUNDS IN LONDON.

TUBERCULAR PATIENTS^

SEPARATE HELP REQUESTED.

The executive of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Association met yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr. J. H. Guneon, in the chair. There -were also present : Messrs. V. 0. Lamer, A. S. Bankart, N. A. Nathan, C. Rhodes, A. J. Entrican, A. G. Lunn, S. Milroy, and E. Bhelan. The president and members formally welcomed Mr. Lunn back to his seat after his visit to Britain. ?

The War Funds Office forwarded a circular giving details as to patriotic funds. This stated that at March 31 last there were 326 approved war funds in existence in New Zealand, and 89 branches of the Red Cross Society. The total in hand was £1,507,058, held by incorporated societies and other organisations. The total raised for patriotic purposes in the Dominion during the war was £5,700,000, accounted for by the War Funds Office, giving an average of £4 18s per canita of the population. The value of the gift parcels, etc., shipped from New Zealand to boldiers overseas during the war was £557,536. There was remaining in the hands of the High Commissioner in London £56,695, which was in excess of the overseas needs for which the funis were raised. Arrangements were being made to have this money returned to New Zealand for the benefit and relief of soldiers and their dependant*. The funds at present available were safely invested at an average rate of interest exceediir 4 -cent. An «?cknowledgm mt was received from Major-General R. S..- F. Henderson, in London, of the £100 remitted to him in July toward the cost of furnishing the offices of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association there. The writer stated that it had been found advisable to accept an offer from the Australian Association to amalgamate with the latter. This combined association, under the style of the Australian and New Zealand .Services Association, was now proving a success. A letter was received from the service patients in the* Pukeora military sanatorium at Waipukurau suggesting that each district patriotic society earmark a certain amount of its funds for the exclusive purpose of providing for tubercular soldiers when they were discharged from sanatoria. In support of the application the writers stated that all specialists agreed that the disease, as contracted by soldiers, could at the most only be arrested, and not absolutely cured. The disease was always liable to become active again on the least provocation, so that, after discharge, it was necessary for consumptive men to live outdoors,, have light graduated, work in the open air, and absolute freedom from worry, if they wished to keep the disease quiescent.- Most of the men in the Waipukurau institution would be unable to compete in the market against fit labour, or return to their former positions of employment, and would be for some ( time handicapped in learning unfamiliar work.

The executive decided to reply that it was unable to separate any portion of its funds for a special section of disabled soldiers, but that it would continue to asssist all disabled men as in the' past. The Permanently Disabled Soldiers' Committee reported that in the past month it had made grants totalling £2500. Those' assisted numbered 12. The Claims Board's report stated that during the month 70 applicants had appeared before it, and itf had also dealt with 137 written applications. The total, amount expended was £1119. Mr. Wesley Spragg had resigned from the sub-committee- controlling the ; motor-car for the annexe, and a letter of appreciation had been sent to him in con- : nection with his services. The car was now be'ing used for the men in the Domain shelters and those in the Evelyn Firth Home. j ■ On the recommendation of the Hospital Committee it was decided to remove the piano and gramaphone formerly in use at Narroar Neck hospital, now ! evacuated. ,to the Soldiers' Club, and the wheeled chairs to the. Evelvn Firth Home or "the King. George Hospital, Rotorua. It was decided to close the . offices of the association for the holidays on December 24, reopening on Monday, January 17, and to leave with the secretary of the Returned Soldiers' Association over that period a, sum of money to meet -urgent cases. The next meeting of the executive was fixed for February 9.