INCREASED RELIEF

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17175, 4 February 1930, Page 9

INCREASED RELIEF

WAR STRAIN NOW TELLING C.D,C. ANNUAL MEETING During the past year the Gisborne Citizens' Defence Committee has experienced an increase in tho number of applications for relief, but despite this additional burden the committee so far has not refused assistance to anyone requiring work. It was pointed out by the chairman, Mr. W. G. Sherratt, at the annual meeting of the committee yesterday afternoon, that men who had been discharged from the army fit and well were now rinding the strain too great. They were unable to claim help in the form of pensions from the Stale, said the chairman, and it was hoped that this committee would bo m a position to meet the most deserving cases. The committee had performed its services well, and would continue to do so with the assistance rendered by (lie Returned Soldiers' Association.

The work of the committee was referred to in the annual report, which was as follows :

"No changes in the personnel of the committee have taken place during the year. The claims board, comprising Mr 11. 11. DeCosta. Mr. 1). W. Coleman (mayor) and Lieutenant-Colonel R. F. Gambrill, has met regularly each Tuesday and at other times when urgent cases requiring immediate attention have arisen. The trustees, Messrs. W. G. Sherratt, 11. Kenway, and Lieuten-ant-Colonel Gambrill, have met and transacted the business of the committee as required. The policy of the committee relative to expenditure of funds for relief purposes as adopted on June ?2, 1927, has been strictly adhered to. Briefly, this policy limits the expenditure of the claims board to £I2OO per annum for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers and their dependents only and prohibits the use of the funds for relief unemployment. As in the past this policy could not have been adhered to without the aid l of the Cir>borno Returned Soldiers' Association, which, as in previous years, undertook to attend to the relief of unemployment among returned soldiers. The sum of 61062 was expended through the Gisborne Roroue;h Council and other source?. for the relief qf unemployment anions returned soldiers. This sum was inclusive of Government subsidies and Ihe hulk of the money other than subsidies was provided by the R.S'.A. The re Hef afforded to this committee's fundf as a result of this calls for the hearties' support of the committee in the annua' ■poppy day appeal of the R.S.A. FINANCE. "The capital of the fund now stands at £14,170 17s 3d, a decrease from last year, of £521 2s 3d. The sum of £123, 7 17s was expended through the claims board. Of this amount £IOO represents an amount, received from the National War Funds Council for disbursement towards the relief of unemployment and does not therefore affect our funds, and £206 16s "Id was disbursed for other societies, refunds being duly obtained The amount actually spent on relief of men f</r whom this committee is responsible is £927 Os lid, which amount is well l)elow the limit of £I2OO allowed to the claims board and £lB 9s 4o* in excess of the amount spent in 1920 This policy must be continued if the life of the fund is to be prolonged for a period commensurate with the need for tho fund. GENERAL. "The claims board again reports an increase in the number of applicants seeking relief who suffer from the ell'ect.s of war service though originally discharged as fit. This, state of affairs is certain to become more aggravated as the years pass. Many men young ic years have become prematurely aged as a result of war service and though willing and able to work are unable to compete on equal terms in times. when unemployment is rife with the younger men, who are also seeking employment. This matter will require tho serious consideration and attention )f tliose who are charged with the duty of seeing that our veterans are not prejudiced by the years given by them in tho service o'i their country. I "The thanks of the committee are conveyed to the various patriotic societies in other centres, and to the national war funds committee for the courteous and prompt attention given to our responsibilities outside Gisborne. The , committee again desires to ■ place on record its sincere appreciation of the services of Mrs. A. Beer as secretary and honorary lady visitor during the past year. The thanks of th* ceminittee are due to the honoray auditors. Messrs. McCullough, Butler, and Spence." CLAIMS INCREASING The claims boards reported, inter alia:— "The board has mot weekly through the year, and in addition has dealt with special cases requiring immediate attention. Tho personnel of the board has remained constant throughout the year. The policy as outlined by the board in its report on last year's operations has been strictly adhered to again. "The total expenditure of the board for the year amounts to £1233 17s. Of this amount £IOO, representing a special grant from the National war funds council, has been disbursed for the relief of unemployment. The amount of £2oo' Iris Id was. expended on account of other societies and has been duly refunded to this committee. Deducting these two items of special expenditure, the net amount paid by the board for the relief of men being responsibilities of this committee is £927 0s lid, made up by supplementary pensions grants, £124, and by grants to soldiers and dependants, £BO3 0s J Id, making a total of £027 0s lid. It will be seen that, this amount is well within the limit, of expenditure- allowed to this board under the policy adopted by the committee in .Tune;' 1027.

"It is again noted" with satisfaction that the prope>rtion of unreasonable applications for aid is rapidly decreasing, this being due to the fact that the board's policy is now well known, and only in a Tare instance does a man apply whose case is not a genuine one. The board regrets that two of our responsibilities have been admitted to mental hospitals during the year, and in each case as a direct result of war .service. It, is also noticed that the percentage of prematurely aged men applying for relief is increasing. The coming years