PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Otaki Mail, 2 June 1930, Page 3

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

! ANNUAL MEETING OP HOEOWHE- : NOA ADMINISTRATIViI BODYi" \ : CONSIDEBATE TREATMENT OP* -:,., APELIOATIONS POR RELIEP. The annual meeting of the Horowhenua. .County Patriotic Association was held on Thursday afternoon, in the Century Hall, there being present: Messrs P. W. Goldsmith (president), !W. E. Kilsby (Koputaroa), S. A. Broadbelt (Ihakara), J. M. Richards (Ihakara),'G. D. Hamilton (Levin), H. J. McLeavey (Ohau), E. Butt (Shannon), T. Clifford (Manakau), R. G. Maclean (Paraparaumu), J. Smith (Paokakariki), "A. I. Mackay (Packakariki), TattonG. Eraser (Waikanae), and F. P. Walkley (Secretary)." A letter was received from Mrs. T. i'. Gibson, of Plimmerton, and formerly 'of Levin, in which she apologised for her inability to attend and extended to the Association her best wishes for continued iroqd work and pleasant relations. Apologies for absence were also received from Messrs H. J. McLeavey (Ohau), C. S. Keedwell (Levin), H. . Xicolson (Otaki), J. T. Bovis (Shan ' non), G. P. Catley (Ohau), and C. P. | Atmore (Otaki). Kcview of Year's Work. The chairman presented the following review of the year's operations: Balance-sheet and Finance. The balance-sheet for the year has been prepared in the usual way and was submitted to Mr. John L. Atcus for audit. It has now been returned with Mr. Arcus' certificate endorsed and shows that the position of the Association's. funds and the transactions for I the year under review may bo sumi marised as follows:: — -The accumulated funds now stand- at £4104 0* ad. This, sum is invested as | follows: —N.Z. Government inscribed stock £IOOO, Public Trustee £llOO, loan's to soldiers £l7-32 0s sd, Bank o( ! N.Z. fixed deposit £IOO, Bank of N.Z. current account £l7l 10s 10d; totals £4lOl 0s 3d. In the statement of receipts and payments the following items show the position:— Receipts.—-Balance from last year £ls 4s 7d, transferred from Bank of New Zealand fixed deposit £2OO, soldiers' loans refunded £2(iS lis Id, interest on investments £l2B 17«, from National War Funds Council, unemployment grants £75, special Native grants £9O 13s 4d, refunds by other societies £6O 17s; total, £845 35." f - - " Payments.—Grants to soldiers and dependants £27fi 19s Id, grants made on account of other societies £O2 17s, account Nationnl War Funds Council,Native grants £S6 13s 4d, unemployment grants £2l, temporary loan to soldiers £l4 Ss, Bank of New Zealand fixed deposit £IOO, secretary's salary£loo, general expenses £ll 5s <)d, balance at'Bank of New Zealand, current account £ll3 19s lOd, Native grants account £4, unemployment fund £54; total £845 3s. It will be seen from the balancesheet that the accumulated funds are returned at £4104. At March 31st in each of the 13 years of the Association's existence, the funds have stood as follows (omittintf shillings and pence):—l9lß £4174, 1919 £5864, 1920 £608.1, -1921 £5945, 1922 £SSOI, 1923 £5843, 1924 £5651. 1925 £54:!9, 1926 £5192,1927 £4539, 1928 £4572, .1929 £4301, 1930 £4104. It will be seen that the funds of tho Association are slowly but surely diminishing.

• . JSoldiers' Loans. During our past 13 years nearly 100 loans have been granted to returned men, amounting in all to £5175. Repayments to the end of the year under review (including £2.6S for the current year) totalled £3443, leaving a balance yet owing of £1732. With regard to this balance owing by 35 borrowers, many repayments are much overdue, but in most instances interest has been paid, but through the stringency of the times, some of the borrowers have -been obliged to let the principal stand over for a period. There arc a few cases in which through sickness, or through a series of misfortunes, the borrowers 'may never be able to meet their obligations in full. No wiping-olf has, however, yet been done. In the large majority of cases the returned men are quite honourable, and will make their repayments when able to do so. There are only a few unsatisfactory cases. Owing to the gradual shrinkage of the funds and the further fact that loan repayments come in slowly, r»ractically no new loans have been granted for the past two years. Grants for the Year. Tho "sum of £276 19s Id of the Association's own. fund.s was distributed during the year. Sonic 25' returned I men and their dependants ' in various parts of the district received this amount. The Association also distributed the sum of £62 17s to claimants j frmo other Patriotic Societies. Then, too, on behalf of the National War ! Funds Council, the sum of £S6 13s 4.' was paid out to Maori soldiers who j had Tendered excellent service in the | war but developed serious ill-health in j consequence. Unemployment grants have also been furnished from the National War Funds Council, £2l of which has already been expended; the balance in ltend of £54 will prove most useful during the winter months when work is, scarce. It" will thus be seen that, for the past year, grants froui all sources have been distributed to. the extent of £440. The grants froni outside involve enquiry, care and work amongst claimants, just as much as those served by our- own Association, and tho committee entrusted with" the work endeavours to see that, as with our own men, every ease is treated as sympathetically and justly as possible. With regard-to loans, many applications, for various reasons, could not possibly be granted; but'for the help .in cases of need which the Association was designed'to give, and for which it exists at the present time, it may safely, be said that no deserving ease has ever been-turned down. .'.' Proceedings During The Year. Three meetings of the management committee have taken place during the year, with a fair attendance of members. ' The Levin Committee has met 'Wvhen necessary, but mostly urgent matters have been bTonght^before individual members -of the committee by the 'secretary, and action has been taken "according to the views of the majority. Business done in this way is reviewed by the manageuient committee in the ordinary course, of its business. The work of members in the managemfcnt committee in various parts of the-dis--triet, in giving advice and information concerning applications from their •localities, is most helpful and assures a proper administration of t&c funds together ' with prompt - and j sympathetic treatment of "those who need help. Future of the Association. It will be seen that some of thj v snraUcr-Patriotic Association have passed in the balance of their funds fo the National, War Funds Council. This is presumably on aceoant of the small-. .ness of the funds left to deal with, and 'the proportionate high percentage cost of administering very small concerns. I do no tthink-there is any desire as yet to wind -tip Association, but whenever that time arrives the annual faceting of"the subseribers'to the funds, seems to bo- the proper place whi're any initiative to* this efEedi should be .taken. I 'notice, ! "too."that • soine ■ Asso--i eiatiohs are concerned lest the GoverhSient of the e omit try shonldin its wis-! "aora seek power' to pompufcor'uy take to i itself the vaTi»ra fatriotie funds : stili j * ;',---„ J, ;i .- ■,, ... 1. „,,„ ,:. ~ , I

in existence in various 'parts of the Dominion. It is very questionable, however, if the administration would be any better than it is at the present time, and it certainly seems reasonable that those who subscribed to" : and established the funds should have a-say in their distribution. /. ~, , Conclusion. -Mr. Walkley has carried out his duties during the year with hisiisua' enthusiastic ' thoroughness.. Mr.; Areus has again • audited the books and accounts, -ofvthp'' Association' free of charge, and the Association is indebted to him for this kindly: service. Thanks are also due' to rhc Press of the district for reports from, time to time of the Association's activities so that the jiublic is aware pf the work being done. Mr. McKay moved and Mr. Frasor seconded that report and balance-sheet be adopted; and the motion : was carried without discussion.' Election of Officers. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—President, Mr. P. W. Goldsmith; .management committee. Messrs C. S. Keedwell, G. D. Hamilton an.l P. W. Goldsmith (Levin), 11. Nicol-:-(in and C. F. Atmore (Otaki), E. Butt. I •!. T. Bovis and Mrs. T. F. Gibson (life iii'inbcr) (Shannon), S. A. Broadbelt rind .T. M; Richards (Ihakara). W. K. Kilsbv (Koputaroa), G. P. Catlev and H. J. MoLcavey (Ohau), C. Nee's and T. Clifford (Manakau), A. McLeavey (Te Horo),' W.' Higginson and T. G. Fraser (Waikanae), R. G. iraclean and? L. I. Howell (Paraparaumu), A. J. McKay and J. S. Smith (Paekaknriki). The committee is the same as that "of the preceding year, with the exception that Mr. C. C. Higginson, who has left the district, is replaced by his. brother. Official Services Recognised. Mr. Hamilton moved a hearty -vote of thanks to' Mr. Goldsmith for the very ca]>able manner in which he had conducted the affairs of the Association. He knew the aniouut of time that that gentleman had devoted to the j organisation's work; and members of the Association and returned soldiers throughout the district owed Mr. Goldsmith a deep debt of gratitude. ,»,'.' -Mr. Fraser paid a tribute to the attention which Mr. Walkley had given to the many duties of .secretary. In seconding Mr. Hamilton's motion, Mr. Maclean said that Mr. Goldsmith had taken a great interest ;u the work of tho society right from the beginning. . .

The vote was passed by acelamatior

The chairman,• in returning thanks, said that every member of the committee had done good work. It had fallen to his lot to be in the chair most of the time, although there were other members quite as coDiputeat for the position. -He had never worked with a finer body of men—and lie did not say this in any flattering way. They all had one object in view, and that was to try to carry out the trust that was comimtted to their cure and to see that tho funds were administered with as much sympathy as possible. He thought that the endeavour of this society and of every member of the committee, and of the secretary as weil, had been to do the work as gracefully and kindly as possible. . With that spirit actuating the members of the committee, it brought . about quite a pleasant feeling *in thi way they -did their work. A hearty vote of thanks was also ,passed, toy acclamation, to Mr>. Gold: iSßiith for having provided a very nice afternoon tea, as well ;.s to the ladies who had assisted her. v