WAR RELIEF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19897, 16 March 1928, Page 12

WAR RELIEF WORK.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. REVIEW OF THE ACTIVITIES. NEARLY HALF-A-MILLION SPENT. A total of almost half-a-million pounds has been distributed to ex-soldiers by the Auckland Patriotic and War Relief Association, the extent of its activities being indicated in the reports of tho separate boards and committees furnished to a meeting of the association yesterday. The acting-president, Mr. V. J. Larner, presided. It was reported that since November 30 last the total expenditure amounted to £5060, leaving a balance in hand at the end of February of £132,655. Tho total fund of the association since its inception amounted to £602,113, while the total disbursements under all headings amounted to £469,458. An appeal to citizens to help the association by providing light work for men was contained in the report of the Claims Board. The board reported that 1315 applications for assistance had been considered during the past quarter. Assistance amounting to £2274 was granted to 952 applicants, the remainder being declined. In addition the board authorised a total of 354 weeks' work to returned soldiers with the City Council on the understanding that the association would pay halfwages. Thp total amount of wages paid since tho inception of the scheme amounted to £ll6O. National War Funds Grants. The report quoted figures showing the large increase in tho number of cases brought before the board, this being due largely to unemployment. For tho quarter ended March, 1924, the number was 395, and for the samo periods in" the succeeding years was 265, 336, 438 and 1315, respectively. Appreciation was expressed of the grants, totalling £7OO, received from tho National War Funds Council. It was from this money and also from the association's "B" fund that assistance was being granted both financially and by way of work to fit soldiers. The report added: "In addition to 'fit' soldiers out of work, there are also a number of ex-soldiers unemployed who aro suffering minor disability, but arc able to undertake 'light work. Tho war pensions in most cases are insufficient to support them and the class of light work which they can undertake does not at present appear to bo available. The board sympathetically considers such cases and earnestly appeals to the citizens to put any work possible, such as gardening and light cleaning job 3, in tho way of these men." The board was still receiving a fair number of applications for assistance from ex-Imperial and Australian soldiers, and was granting monetary assistance or work, where considered advisable, on behalf of the National War Funds Council. Permanently Disabled Men, Tho Permanently Disabled Soldiers' Board reported that during the quarter 14 applications for assistance were considered—six were granted, two declined and six deferred. The amount voted to the successful applicants totalled £BSB. Since the inception of the scheme, 525 men had been voted assistance amounting to £106,168, an average of £202 a man. These grantees were all men suffering 40 per cent, and upwards of permanent war disability. According to the report of tho Veterans' Homo Committee, there were 21 veterans in the home, their health being satisfactory, considering their groat age. The Annexe Committee reported the site of the new T.B. shelters near the hospital had been approved and tenders were being called by the Hospital Board. It had been decided to remove the social room to the new site and the association's contribution to this would be £250. The various reports were adopted, Mr. n. Horton remarking it was to the credit of the association that so much money should have been distributed without incurring any criticism.