WAR RELIEF

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11222, 30 May 1922, Page 4

WAR RELIEF

APPLICATION OF FUNDS ASSISTANCE AFFORDED DURING APRIL. AN IMPORTANT POINT. The monthly meeting of the executive committee of the War Relief Association of Wellington met yesterday afternoon. There were present:— ■Messrs L. 0. H. Tripp (chairman!, C. M. Luke, A. Veitch, William Ferguson, O. Watson, and Colonel J. Pow (representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association). REPORT OF COMMITTEE. The applications committee stated that since the previous meeting on April 28th, it had dealt with 361 applications, including two claims referred to it by the finance committee. The total number of applications received was 417, and 56 cases were .still under action. During the period 456 persons bad called at the association’s office: 290 applied for direct assistance and 196 sought indirect aid and advice upon many subjects. Ten per cent, of the applications dealt with since the last meeting of the executive were lodged by Australians (12), Imperial (22) and Canadian (3) soldiers, giving the committee cause to again express concert) at the increasing number of applications presented by men who did not serve with the N.Z.E.F. “Whilst you have power under your constitution to extend assistance to such claimants,” stated the report, “your committee has already expressed its conviction that the interests of our own disabled soldiers and their dependents must not' be thereby prejudiced.” “It will have been noted,” the report continued. “that during the period under review, your committees have rendered assistance to those en gaged in agricultural, industrial, and commercial pursuits; for apart from the loans awarded by your finance committee, your applications committee has approved grants for the purchase of machines to enable disabled soldiers to establish themselves in the bootmaking and other businesses; has supplied cane to other disabled men engaged in the basketmaking industry; has issued orders for tools of trade, paid entrance fees to various unions and sent a number of men to employment . APPLICATIONS INCREASING. “On the basis of the number of applications lodged since December Ist, 1921, your applications committee will, during the present; year, be called upon to deal with 3796 cases, which means that there will be lodged during the present year a greater number of applications than during any previous year, with the exception of 1920; moreover, the claims now submitted arc much more difficult of solution than they were two or three years ago, and the heavy increase in correspondence received from all parts of the Dominion and from many kindred organisations in various parts of the world indicates that the present year will actually he a much more strenuous period than has obtained since tho inauguration of your association in January’, 1916.” Commenting on the report the chairman mentioned that ill view of the large number of applications the emergency committee had been obliged to meet daily. It had thus been able to give immediate attention to- applications, relieving the work of the committee considerably. Tho report was adopted. FINANCE. Tlic finance committee reported that in addition to controlling the financial operations of the association it had dealt with nine cases, each involving. 1 a sum in excess of £SO. All the cases—i with tho exception of two—had been ; previously before the committee, but required further consideration in respect to the unpaid balances totalling £694 3s Id on loans aggregating £BOS. The total involved was £955, of which £IOO previously awarded ae a grant to a very badly disabled soldier remained unaltered, vybilst suspension of repayment for varying periods was approved in seven cases, comprised by loans advanced for acquisition of residential property £205, balance £177 10b ; agricultural £605, balance £316 13s 4d; commercial £2OO, balance £2OO. The two new cases were both favourably considered, the total of £l5O approved being represented by an advance of £IOO to a poultry farmer and £SO in respect to house property. Expenditure exceeded income during the month of April by £339 5s lid. Balances w’ere shown at the bank of £3438 19s 4d; investments totalled £41,522 18s lOd; {making total funds available at April 30th amounting to £44,981 18s 2d. B The report was adopted;