WAR FUNDS

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 10

WAR FUNDS

SOUTHLAND ASSOCIATION. ! ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the annual report of the j Southland War Funds Association, to be • presented at the annual meeting on ; Monday— The eleventh annual report and statement [ of accounts, whilst marking another year of , careful administration, discloses the fact ' that the work of the association shows no i sign of diminution; on the contrary, the executive committee finds it increasingly necessary as time goes on to give more attention to individual cases, and especially does this apply in the number of men who are now feeling the effects of war strain. The wisdom of conserving the funds is more and more being evidenced. It can be safely and confidently stated that from the very inception of the association no deserving application has been declined, and it can be also said with equal confidence that watchful care has been bestowed on the expenditure in order that there should ' now be in existence and available for dis- j tribution sufficient money to meet the i present-day and future needs. Letters of : appreciation constantly being received j amply testify to the value of the funds and to the administrative care in dispensing them. The original policy of considering each case on its merits continues with eminently satisfactory result. THE CONFERENCE. A very important conference was held at Wellington in June of last year and was attended by representatives from all Patriotic Societies, Red Cross Societies, Returned Soldiers’ Associations, and other bodies interested in patriotic work. The conference was called by the Minister of Internal Affairs principally with the ostensible object of considering a proposal for centralisation. This proposal was thrown out with a unanimity that was most con- i vincing. What was principally and em- I phatically demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Minister was the continued interest on the part of those who were carrying on their voluntary labours. There was throughout the whole proceedings a soundly expressed intention of carrying on. The association was represented at the conference by the chairman (Mr J. Gilkison) and the secretary (Mr H. J. Farrant), and both delegates gave a '•very complete report at a meeting of committee on June 21, their reports being published in the Press at that time. Some of the figures are reproduced here as suitable for embodiment in the annual report. The total assets of all patriotic bodies in the Dominion as at March 31, 1926, were shown to be £1,154,128, of which total amount Southland w’as holding £51,143. The total relief for the year amounted to £56,442, Southland’s quota being £3726. Total number of claims dealt with during the year, 10,613 —Southland 990. Administration costs in relation to the number of applications dealt with varied from £1.59 to £0.68, Southland being the lowest. UNEMPLOYMENT. A statement of expenditure for the quar- | ters ending June and September of last j year showed a decrease of £1572 on the . previous year’s disbursements, the figures j being—--1925 Relief grants, £1948; advances, £2399. 1926 Relief grants, £1468; advances, £1307. | A comparison of refunds for the same ; periods shows a balance of £lO2 in favour of last year, the amounts received being—--1925, £1176: 1926, £1278. This statement appeared to indicate that | the returned soldiers of Southland were exercising a commendably independent ' spirit, for undoubtedly the lack of employ- i ment problem was acute here as in other j parts. It was also noted at the time that by far the greater portion of relief granted 1 was to those who were actually sick and , therefore unable to help themselves. FINANCIAL POSITION. The total assistance for the year amounted to £5346, being—Relief grants £3144 and advances £2234: refunds on loans, £2332. The Advances Account is now at £4601; Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Fund, £41,092; and General War Fund, £679. Cash deposits are £33,326; the total nett assets being £41,961. The capital funds have been drawn upon to the amount of £2127. Interest earned for the year amounted to £1646. The financial position is very satisfactory. Tables printed at the end of this report show disbursements, etc., over a period of 8} years, and should be of interest to members. GENERAL. Christmas Cheer —Owing to the indisposition of Miss Dryburgh, other arrangements had to be made for the distribution of Christmas cheer. The work was cheerfully undertaken by the lady members and the secretary of the Red Cross Society, all of whom devoted a great amount of personal attention, with the result that each family received a parcel suitable to its particular needs. Fifty-one parcels were delivered, the expenditure being £56 14/-. Resignation—Owing to his removal to Timaru for health reasons, Mr Bowler tendered his resignation, which was accepted with much regret. Mr Bowler had been a particularly active member of committee over quite a long period of years, and had rendered invaluable service in many ways. Leave of Absence —Mr John Gilkison has been granted ten months’ leave of absence during his business trip to England. Pensions —Important matters regarding pensions have been under notice and referred to the Commissioner. Appreciation—The thanks of the executife committee are extended to the Press, kindred associations, Pensions and other Government Departments, to the Salvation Army officer, to the honorary visitors, and all who have contributed to the work of the association. The committee is specially indebted to representatives in the country districts for their valuable reports on matters referred to them. Returned Soldiers’ Association—The Invercargill Association has been re-organised during the year. Amongst its many functions every opportunity for co-operation with the War Funds Association is availed of, giving general satisfaction. The R.S.A. at Gore has also contributed largely to the work of administration. Office—The secretary and his assistant continue to give efficient service, faithfully, promptly and sympathetically attending to their various duties. Conclusion—As in previous reports the executive committee again urge on those associated with the administration of the funds a continuation of their kindly assistance. Great work has been done in the past, but much remains to do, and this can best be carried on by those who with the knowledge gained by experience are still actively engaged in the task. THE BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet for the year ended March 31, 1927, showed on the liability side £41,092 4/9 for the Soldiers’ and Dependents’ Fund, £679 18/4 General War Fund, £lBB 15/7 bank overdraft, and £1 sundry creditors. On the assets side were £20,500 Invercargill Corporation debentures, £12,326 19/2 Southland Building Society debentures, £5OO Government debentures, £3270 Enwood property, £4601 12/11 advances to soldiers, £94 office furniture, £669 6/7 accrued interest. ADVANCES TO SOLDIERS, ETC. The statement giving the payments to soldiers and dependents over a period of 8£ years, extending from the quarter ending September 30, 1918, to March 31, 1927, shows that £42,495 was given in cases of relief, the largest amount of £5389 being given in the quarter ending September 30, 1919, and the smallest amount of £533 being given in the quarter ending March 31, 1922. The amount given in relief for the quarter ending March 31, 1927, was £694. The total advances made over the period of 8| years were £23,901, the largest amount of £1243 being advanced in the quarter ending September 30, 1925, and the smallest amount of £33 11/- being advanced in the quarter ending December 31, 1918. The amount advanced in the quar-

ter ending March 31, 1927, was £296. The total amount of the refunds over this period of 8] years was £17,186, the largest refund of £lO4 being made in the quarter ending September 30, 1920, and the smallest of £9 being made in the quarter ending March 31, 1919.

The statement of advances covering a period of 82 years shows that the advances outstanding on September 30, 1918, amounted to £7lO, while on March 31, 1927, it had risen to £4601. The amounts written off totalled £3156, the largest amount of £563 being written off in March, 1924. The smallest amount of £32 10/- was written off in March, 1927.