AID FOR SOLDIERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22147, 28 June 1935, Page 13

AID FOR SOLDIERS

THE PATRIOTIC FUND ADMINISTRATION JUSTIFIED REPLY MADE TO CRITICISM WIDE APPRECIATION OF WORK "As an association we can look back with pleasure and satisfaction on our honorary war work, strenghtened in the knowledge that we have honestly and sincerely carried out to the best of our ability the trust that was reposed in us," said the deputy-chair-man, Mr. V. J. Larner, when submitting the report of the executive at the annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association yesterday. "Briefly, the position is that we started the year with £62.608. and end up with a balance of £52,900, so that our funds have been depleted to' the extent of £9700." said Mr. Larner. "Some members of patriotic societies advocate a tighten ing-up policy, whereby the life of the various funds may be extended. Others not connected with patriotic societies have for years past voiced the opinion that our claims board is either too careful or too niggardly in its grants. They suggest that if the administration were in their hands, a far more generous policy would be adopted. Regard for the Future "Their thoughts are centred only on the present. Apparently the future must look after' itself. The result of the course suggested would be that to-day our funds would be exhausted, and thousands of returned men and their dependants deprived of' assistance we are now in a position to give them." Mr. Larner said the executive was also informed that it was out of touch with the men for whom the patriotic funds were donated. He would like to point out that those administering the funds were guided by 20 years' experience. Since its inception the personnel of the claims board had been very little changed, and to that, in a great measure, might be attributed the success claimed for the executive's administration, Mr. Larner continued. Although there were some whose claims had not been met to the extent they desired, and a small section who sought to "sponge" on the fund, they were in a striking minority to the thousands who had nothing but appreciation for what had been done for them.

"Absurdly Erroneous Statements" It had to be emphasised that the fund must not be regarded as a reward for war services, or for the purpose of meeting civil misfortunes. Further, the trustees of the funds had been appointed by the subscribers themselves. Fifty per cent of those originally appointed were still acting. The fund now being administered was termed the "A" fund. The rules and regulations governing this fund, which had been approved by the Government, precluded the executive from granting relief outside those prescribed limits. Since its inception no leas than £582.000 had been distributed from this fund. "Some absurdly erroneous statements have been made public that the cost of administering our funds amounts to 8s to 9s in the pound," continued the deputy-chairman. "The administration cost of this office and branches amounts for the year to £1833, which works out at practically 2s 6d in the pound. This society's boundaries extend from the North Cape down to and including Taumaruijjai and Ohura. The society dealt with men in various parts of the Dominion, apart from the Auckland district, and in addition to acting as agent for the Pensions and other Government departments, did work for Southern societies. The work of the office also included the Veterans' Home.

Appreciation of Help "There is really no excuse for such a statement, as ridiculous as it is outrageous, for had the writer taken the trouble to examine our annual statements, or made inquiries from this office, Le could easily have satisfied himself as to the cost of our administration. "In conclusion, may I say that the welfare of our returned men and their dependants is our special care," said Mr. Larner. "For 20 years we have laboured to redress their wrongs, relieve their anxieties and generally to better their condition. A few there are> who seem to think that we are lacking in the spirit of compassion, but against that we are buoyed up with hundreds of letters expressing thanku for the assistance received from the fund." In seconding the report, Mr. A. G. Lunn said he had -found the claimu board, in its treatment of applications, the most sympathetic and generous board he had ever been associated . with. Mr. Lunn then read a few of the many letters oi appreciation the society had received from applicants. The report and statement of accounts, which have already been published in the Herald, were adopted. MEN IN MENTAL HOSPITALS QUESTION OF ASSISTANCE The measure of assistance ex-service-men in mental hospitals were receiving was referred to at the annual meeting of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association yesterday. The subject was introduced by Mr. E. J. Plielan, who said that in view of the decision of the claims board to make a personal investigation of mental cases he would like to have an expression of opinion as to bow far ifc would be justified in assisting these men. The acting-chairman, Mr. V. J. Larner, said the chairman of the executive. Sir James Gunson, was also connected with the Red Cross Society, and he would prefer the position to be explained to him upon his return from Wellington. The Patriotic Society's fund, he added, was subscribed for a specific purpose, and he did not think it would be wise to go outside of th'St. Mr. D. Donaldson said the men's mental affliction might in some way be due to war service, and he did not see how that was outside the purposes of the fund. "1 think this matter should be referred to the executive for its sympathetic consideration." he said. Mr. Larner explained that of the 255 returned men in mental hospitals m the association's district only 55 were there as a result of established war disability. They were receiving a Government war pension of £3 Is a week. It had never been established that the remaining men were suffering from war disabilitv. The secretary, Mr. T. B. Kay, added that if a married man in a mental hospital had dependants his wife could apply for a civil pension.