WAR RELIEF FUNDS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16042, 1 February 1923, Page 6

WAR RELIEF FUNDS.

SOCIETIES’ FEDERATION MEETS. tPer Press Association.! WELLINGTON, this day. The Advisory • Board of the War Relief Societies’ Federation to-day decided to continue its activities. The chairman, Mr. L. 0. 11. Tripp, reviewing the work, said tho War Funds Council was now capable of taking over the funds of the societies whoso work would permit them to cease operations. The number o! societies was l’educed at the end of last year from 983 to 93, and at the end .of next March would he 43. In Wellington the claims had been unexpectedly, numerous and far above those of the previous year. More men had broken down aa the result of war service and hard times .had affected tho position. Eighty per cent, of the 'loans were boing repaid. The funds of the societies totalled £BBO,OOO. He said the societies did not lose their individuality by placing their funds with the Council. Tho funds had still to go to the district whence they came and bo locally administered. He suggested that the Council was a fit and proper body to carry on the work the Advisory Board had been doing. Mr. V. J. Larner ' (Auckland) concurred.

Mr. J; J. Dougall (Christchurch) said the Board cost little and might be appreciated later. The' Hon. Mr. -Snodgrass said the Council might formulate a policy antagonistic to the Board’s views, and the Board should exist to combat such. After further discussion it was decided to continue, but the Board is only to meet in caso of necessity. The Board reaffirmed its previous resolution disapproving of tho Taranaki system of grants as gifts.