PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18244, 10 November 1922, Page 11

PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES.

VETERANS' HOME FINANCE.

NO SUBSIDY FORTHCOMING.

ASSISTANCE TO DISABLED.

The Auckland Patriotic Association executive met yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr. J. H. Gunson, occupying the chair.

Correspondence was read in connection with' the Veterans' Home. The association had applied to the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, for a subsidy toward the upkeep of the institution. The Minister's reply stated that the association had benefited very largely by the transfer of the home and its accumulated funds to that organisation. After providing for the present residents, all of whom had reached an extreme age, the building and the accumulated funds remaining would form a handsome asset to the association, which had at March 31 last a balance of £176,651 in hand. In view of this it was difficult to see on what grounds further Government assistance should be required a'B a subsidy to the home. The president stated that he had replied to the Minister stating, inter alia, that so far as the building and accumulated funds being a "handsome asset" was concerned this was both prospective and extremely doubtful, and did not in any way represent a changed position from that of the former trustees. In any case, the realisation" of the "handsome asset" would .be long deferred. He suggested, therefore, that it did not form any ground for withholding a subsidy. The £176,661 in hand, he pointed out, did not include any of the assets taken over by the' association from the Veterans' Home, and was not money available for the purposes of the home.He had again applied for a subsidy, or, in the alternative, had suggested that the annual deficit in the accounts of the home misrht be made a charge on the National Funds which might make a grant toward that deficit. The president's letter was approved. It was decided to defer further consideration of the matter until a reply from the Minister had been received. The Claims Board reported that during the past month 107 applicants had been dealt with. Assistance was granted to 59, the remainder being declined. The total assistance granted was £416. The report of the Permanently Disabled Soldiers' Board for the past month stated that nin* applications had been considered. Two applications were granted, five deferred for further particulars, and two: declined. The two successful applicants were assisted to the extent of £345. The total number of permanently disabled soldiers assisted since the inception of the scheme was" 410, and the total of the votec Authorised to.date £87.185 16s. Notification was received from the Department of Internal Affairs that the proposed transfer. to the association of. the Victoria League's Red Cross fur-ds had been authorised. The president mentioned that the amount involved was £3800. i'he secretary reported the receipt of £213 on transfer from the Gev&ion local relief fund.

It was agreed to grant £200 to the Mayoress' War Memorial Fund, for its hospital work, etc. In response to an application from Dr. Wallace, medical superintendent of the King George Hospital, Rotorua, it was decided to grant a sum of not more than £160 for repairs and maintenance of a launch for the* use of patients in that institution. The president explained that the association had withdrawn its monthly vote of £30 to the hospital for recreation as* there'had been- overlapping. The other organisations formerly operating at Rotorua liad, lumever, ceased dointj so, and the patients, all badly-wounded ■men, were not provided for as regar.ls recreation, '