THE BLINDED SERVICEMEN’S FUND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25454, 8 February 1944, Page 4

THE BLINDED SERVICEMEN’S FUND

Sir, —In the report in the press of the National Patriotic Fund Board’s budget for the coming year it was stated that included in the expending agents is the Commercial Travellers’" Association for blind servicemen. It might be inferred that we are dependent on the National Patriotic Fund Board for income. Actually the board, approving of the establishment of this fund, administered by the Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Associations of New Zealand, gave us a nucleus of £IOO. Since then members of the affiliated associations in Wellington, Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago have been responsible for collecting £3360 for this particular patriotic effort. I am sure that it will never be necessary for the trustees of this fund to call on any other patriotic body for financial assistance for the beneficiaries of this fund. Blinded servicemen and their dependents of the last war, according to the last balance sheet, were directly assisted by £14,436, St. Dunstan’s (England) received £SOO, indirect assistance e.g., reunions, Christmas gifts, etc., cost £567, advertising £4O, and sundry expenses amounted to £55; a total of £15,598. The two funds for blinded services (1914-18) and (1939- ?) are sepefrate and distinct, though they are administered by the same trustees, and have the same objects.—l am, etc., R. E. Selby, Honorary Secretary. Wellington, February 4.