OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21646, 17 May 1932, Page 14

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT ' The annual report of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, •which will be presented at the annual meeting on May 24, states, inter aha:— The Finance Committee’s report states that increased calls on the funds necessitated a larger expenditure than in previous years, and ample provision was made for such moneys as were required to carry on the work of the association. The balance of the fund now stands at £44,554 6s Bd. This represents £45,000 invested with the Dunedin City Corporation, less a bank overdraft of £445 13s 4d. With increasing age, war strain is affecting many ex-soldiers, reducing their earning capacity, with the resailt that periodical assistance becomes necessary. The wisdom of conserving the fund in the earlier para is now apparent, and it appears probable that a gradual increase in the claims on the fund is likely to go on for some years. There is no reliable data on which a forecast of the life of the fund can be based. The report of the Otago Soldiers and Dependents’ Welfare Committee states that since the inception of the committee 22,269 applications from returned soldiers have been investigated and dealt with, and the sum of £139,950 4s 7d expended by way of grants and allowances. During the past three years a steady increase in the number of applications has been evident, the present year showing a very considerable advance over previous years. This is largely due to the unstable economic conditions throughout New Zealand. Many men fit only for light work, who were able in previous years to subsidise their pensions by their earnings, now find themselves unable to secure suitable work. A large number of these men have been kept in employment by means of a common fund operated in conjunction with the Returned Soldiers’ Association. The work provided has been of a light nature, and the earnings of the men plus their pensions has enabled them to tide over a difficult period. With the advent of better trading conditions many of these men will be reabsorbed in suitable occupations. The close co-operation existing between this association, the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the Red Cross Society has eliminated any danger of overlapping. A Central Committee representative of these three bodies meets periodically to deal with cases which might properly be considered by any of these bodies. This committee investigates and verifies particulars of all applications which it is considered might be referred to the trustees of the Grace Lilian Mitchell Fund. During the year a large number of applications were lodged by men who had not previously applied for help, and a large proportion of the remaining aplications were received from men who had not applied for help since receiving a mufti grant 'in 1919 or 1920. With a view to retaining Jlock House Station as a training school for the children of ex-soldiers who are anxious to go nil, the land, a meeting representative of Returned Soldiers’ Associations and Patriotic Societies throughout New Zealand was held at Flock House early in the year. As a result of the conference it appears probable that facilities will now be provided for a number of such children to take up farm work.