PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 14

PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES.

ASSISTING EX-SOLDIERS.

FINANCES OF ASSOCIATION.

V '■ " GRANT TO THE CITY MISSION.

The needs of slightly-disabled and fit returned soldiers were emphasised in reports prosented yesterday to the quarterly meeting of the executive of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War' Relief Association. It was stated that a sum of £IOO had been voted to the Anglican City Mission from the almost exhausted "B" fund, in recognition of the help given by the mission to unemployed returned men.

"The number of cases of serious war disablement continues to be large," stated the claims board in its report for the quarter, "and in another group pf returned men, namely, those who are suffering slight disability, tho /committee has experienced a very large volume of work.

"Regarding the former group, namely, those suffering obvious and severe disability, in most cases pensions relative to the condition of the men are held, but these are often insufficient for bare necessities, and supplementation by extended votes from the !A' fund has been is necessary in many cases, particularly where thero is sickness, and need for special attention. This is the form of assistance in which probably the best work of the association is being done, especially where those concerned are married men with families. Borderline Oases.

"In regard to the slightly-disabled men, there are many in this group who could obtain work olid their condition permit 'them to follow their pre-war occupation, but even a slight' disablement very frequently prevents the resumption of the same. Tnis throws them into the unemployed group. In most cases the pensions are slight to meet their disabilities, and assistance from the 'A' fund has been required throughout the period by a very large number of this group. There is no question as to the availability of the 'A' fund to any case within the above two classes. Your commjttee, however, continues to exercise its discre,tion on a wider basis, for where jt is established that men who have suffered war disability but who have seemingly recovered, are now suffering hardship from sickness or domestic causes, your committee, realising that frequently war conditions are a factor to such hardship, has rendered, and continues to render, appropriate assistance. Great care, however, is exercised to see that the funds are not exploited. "The number of cases considered was 1054. Of this number assistance was granted to 753 applicants and 301 applications were declined or deferred to southern patriotic societies for consideration. The assistance voted amounted to £2845."

Men in/Mission Shelter.

Regarding the "B" fund, which is not earmarked for disabled soldiers and their dependants, the claims board reported that it continued to act for National War Funds Council in disbursing funds for unemployment relief. In the past quarter two sums of £250 each out of the £SOOO allocated for the whole Dominion had been received from the council and the greater part of the money had been, expended. The credit balance in the "B" fund at date was £539, This month a deputation from the Anglican City . Mission had waited on the board respecting the very large number of returned soldiers in need who were making use. of its night shelter. Of an average of 115 men accommodated nightly about half were ex-soldiers. "Not by any means have all of these men a legitimate claim on the funds of this association," the board stated, "but undoubtedly a large number have such a claim, among them being many who from time to time have been assisted by the association, and some of whom continue to receive assistance. The work done by the mission in the interests of returned men, and generally for the relief of distress in the City of Auckland, which is a legitimate purpose of the ' B ' fund, is of such a nature that your committee felt justified in favourably considering an appeal from the mission in regard to its specific work as outlined above. The committee, therefore, voted toward the same a sum of £IOO from the 'B'fund." The action of the board was approved.

State of the Funds.

With regard to permanently disabled soldiers, it was reported that sums amounting to £466 had been granted to five applicants. Three other applications had been declined and one deferred."

The finance committee reported that the funds in hand at August 31- amounted to £120,478, compared with £120,066 at May 31. In the ' period £2824 had been received in interest and £1149 in refunds from other associations. Expenditure under all headings had amounted to £3567. The chairman remarked that reports covering such short periods as three months should not be taken as an indication of the association's financial position.