USE 0F WAR FUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19625, 2 May 1927, Page 10

USE 0F WAR FUNDS.

LARGE SUM ACCUMULATED. RETURNED SOLDIERS* CLAIMS. PART OF INTEREST WANTED. The effectiveness of the conservation of funds by the 77 war patriotic societies throughout New Zealand is revealed by the fact that at the close of the financial year ended March 31, 1926, a total of £1,201,621 was available for relief purposes among returned soldiers and their dependents. In addition, the National War Funds Council held £122,291, and the Treasury £3l/737, making a grand total of £1,355,649. The handling of this money is of interest, in-view of the opinion expressed at the annual meeting of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association last week that greater use should be made of the interest earned by the money held by the National War Funds Council. It was estimated last year that war funds in Auckland would last for 23£ pears, and that the Dominion funds as a whole would be spent within 16 years at the present rate of expenditure. The last annual report of-the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association referred to a movement to reconstruct the National War Funds Council, so that members should be nominated by patriotic societies and appointed by the Government, as it was stated that neither the advisory board nor the council had functioned actively for some time. While it was felt the funds should remain intact in the meanwhile, it was considered that at least part of the interest earned should be dstributed. The original intention was to use the funds to provide additional veterans' homes, and at the present time relief is generally restricted to men who are suffering from injuries, and are in necessitous circumstances. As a result a returned soldier who was classed as fit on his re turn, but who is now in need of financial assistance, might not receive consideration, whereas another man in the same circumstances who was unfit on his -e----turn, is more likely to be apportioned a sum to help him in his difficulties. As several societies have declared against the centralisation of their funds, the laying down of a uniform policy has be.sn made a difficult matter. Canteen and regimental trust funds amounted to £IBO,OOO last June, but the opinion among the various returned soldiers' associations is that this should not be drawn upon until- the funds of the other societies have been exhaus'rid when an urgent call would probably be made upon accumulated funds. By adopting this course it was hoped to increase the canteen funds considerably within a few ypars. Mr. L. O. H. Tripp, president of the New Zealand Patriotic War Relief Society, stated last year that of the returned soldiers who had required assistance, one in every three had received pensions, and one in every four had received help, as against one in every 100 who returned from the South African War. However, it is now desired to secure the use of interest on War Council funds to reliere men in straightened circumstances.