AID FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20981, 18 September 1931, Page 10

AID FOR EX-SOLDIERS.

more men seek relief. many new applicants. WORK OF ASSOCIATION. Owing to the fact that the war disability of many men is becoming more and more apparent, an increasing number of applications for relief is coming before the Claims Board of the Auckland Patriotic and War Belief Association. At a meeting of the association yesterday, tho board reported that 1565 applications were considered during the past quarter. Of that number 1042 were granted, 439 declined and 84 deferred. The amount granted to the successful applicants was £3314, or £3 3s 6d a soldier. It was stated that it was likely the work of the board would be fully maintained. There was a large number of "first applications," a state of affairs not expected, at any rate, to the extent which was being experienced. The distribution of sums aggregating £635 on behalf of the National War Funds Council was announced by the secretary. Two allocations of £250 each, received from the council, had been paid to the Auckland Returned Soldiers Association for tho relief of unemployment. Distribution to provincial centres had been made as follows: —Whangarei, £3O; Rotorua, £4O; Hamilton, £3O; and Tauir.aruuui, £ls.

The Permanently Disabled Soldiers Board advised having dealt with threo applications, two of which had been granted, while the third had been deferred for further informatjon. Tho amount voted was £2OO. 'Die board drew the attention of tho association to tho present nominal volume of its work, and raised the question whether its separate existence should bo ended. It was decided that tho board should bo disbanded, and any work of the nature usually referred to it should in future bo dealt with by the Claims Board. The finance committee reported that the balance of funds in hand amounted to £89,286 19s 6d. Since the inception of the association a total of £544.007 had been expended for relief purposes. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr. N. Alfred Nathan, who had been a member of the association since 19J5, was carried, the members standing in silence. In moving the resolution, the chairman said Mr. Nathan had been a most interested and diligent worker on the executive of tho association, and his efforts had been most highly appreciated. It was also decided to convey to ilr. J. Stanton, solicitor to the association, the sympathy of the association with him in the loss on Mount Ruapehu of his son, Warwick.