RETURNED SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21803, 18 May 1934, Page 12

RETURNED SOLDIERS

THE PATRIOTIC FUNDS CAPITAL DECREASING [from OUR OWN' correspondent] TE AKOHA, Thursday The president, Mr. G. H. Nicholls. presided at a largely-attended general meeting of the To Aroha Returned Soldiers' Association last night, when an enthusiastic welcome was accorded Captain S. J. Harrison, general secretary to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association. In the course of an address Captaiu Harrison recapitulated the history of the national war fund and the canteen fund, and showed that for the past few years a heavy drain had been made on the capital of both funds. In 1931, the national war fund stood at £160,000; in J932. £157,000; in 1933, £140,000; in 1934, £130,000, the latter being the estimate as for July next. The canteen fund in 1932 totalled £202,000; February 1. 1934, £188.830; estimated amount for July, 1931. £176,000. It had to be remembered that the canteen funds were controlled bv returned soldiers, . and not by the Government, as many thought. The speaker gave particulars of the number of men assisted throughout tho Dominion, no less than £15,000 having been given from the various funds in 12 months. He spoke at length on tho cases that came before the association for assistance. Unemployment was the leading factor in the applications for assistance from the national war fund. A vote of thanks was accorded the speaker.