CANTEEN FUNDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 9

CANTEEN FUNDS

R.S.A. WANTS RELEASE SOLDIER RELIEF The executive of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association at a meeting on Thursday evening endorsed the action of the Dominion body in requesting the Canteen Funds Board to make available funds for the relief of returned soldiers. Speakers urged the need of a determined attitude on the part of the association, and the executive decided to communicate with the central body voicing the branch’s opinion. The president, Mr. A. C. A. Sexton, said that a resolution requesting the board to release one year’s interest on the funds for the assistance of ex-soldiors was passed at the annual conference of the association. The funds consisted of all the profits from regimental, camp, ship and other canteens run by the various portions of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. They belonged essentially to the men themselves and should be used for their benefit and succour in time of need. Many ex-soldiers were in great distress and many were dependent on the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board to prevent them and their families from starving. The total funds of the board are now £200,170, the president said. The annual interest of this would be approximately £IO,OOO. He considered that the fund was administered by a body of men appointed by the Government, and obviously not in touch with the needs of the ex-soldiers. The time had arrived when a determined effort should be made to have two additional members, nominated by the association, appointed to the board.

The Poppy Day funds are now practically exhausted, and although more than 500 men have been assisted by grants of food or clothing, the relief was only temporary. He said that probably all the cases assisted were in as bad a position now as they were previously.