WAR FUNDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12465, 5 June 1926, Page 4

WAR FUNDS

QUESTION OF ALLOCATION POOLING OBJECTED TO HOME FOR “SERVICE DERELICTS’’ Members of the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association yesterday expressed themselves against a proposal to centralise the accumulated war funds. It was decided, however, that sufficient of the canteen funds should be set aside for the establishment of a home for what wore termed “war derelicts.” The committee recommended that, while being opposed to any compulsory centralisation or patriotic funds, it considered that, with regard to several societies controlling comparatively small sums, their amalgamation with larger societies might prove advantageous. Mr W. E. Leadley (Christchurch) said the committee considered the time was not ripe for centralisation of war funds: but that better organisation would lead to greater efficiency in distribution. Mr Andrew Duncan (Marlborough) opposed the pooling of war funds,' and said it would be a distinct breach of trust if a merger were to take plnco and alter the administration of the funds which were given for a specific purpose. The interests of returned men were being safeguarded as far as Marlborough was concerned. Other members were in agreement against centralisation, and the remit was carried. UNIFORMITY IN RELIEF The commiltee considered somo uniformity of granting relief should be arrived at in order that disabled men who had not yet been accepted as a charge on the Pensions Department, and ex-soldiers and dependents in necessitous circumstances should receive assistance, whether tho circumstances of the case were due to war service or nos. The committee, stated Mr Leadley, could not express too strongly its opinion that it was the intention of donors to patriotic funds to assist in all cases of genuine hardship, whether due to disablement or not. This was adopted. Increased representation for the R.S.A. on the National War Funds Council is to bo sought. Endeavours are to be made to secure £SOOO from Earl Haig’s funds for the relief of Imperial soldiers in New Zealand. It was explained by Mr W. E. Leadley that £3OOO had been secured from the United Services Fund, and expended, and another £3OOO had been promised. It was the last that could be secured from the United Services Fund, and it was thought desirable to try to get an amount from Earl Haig’s fund. HOME FOR DERELICTS On the recommendation of the committee, the conference decided that application he made to the Canteen Fund Trust Board to set aside sufficient funds for the early establishing and maintenance of a home for those who, on account of war disability or other cause are unable to maintain themselves, such home to be i.ear a centre and to have attached an area of land in order that the institution may be as far as possible self-support-ing. Mr W. Perry greeted the suggestion of a home as the best possible relief for derelicts of the war, many of whom were already advanced in years, through having been well over the age when they went away.