COAL AND BLANKET FUND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2051, 10 September 1920, Page 4

COAL AND BLANKET FUND

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The annual meeting of the committee of the Mayor's Coal and Blanket Fund was held this morning, the Rev. F. Rule presiding. The annual report, recorded with regret the death of Miss Boon, who had been a member of the committee last year. Miss Boon had been a good worker. The total number of applications received during the session had been 289 against. 431 last year. Of these, seven had applied for blankets only. Blankets distributed numbered 219, against. 248 last year. Second grants numbered 139 against 9(i. Those refused assistance had been 23, against 09. The following were the reasons for the refusals: Ten for having an aggregate income above the sum required by the committee; live for drink; two for immorality; one for telling untruths; one for applying whilst having a registered home under the Education Department; one for thriftlessness, and three for being under the age. Amongst the applicants were 19.1 old age pensioners. An application had also been received from a family of English emigrants which had arrived only a few week* previously in almost a destitute condition. The session had commeneed work on April 21, the year's work finishing on August 25. The committee had not sat for four months. The coal shortage had not been as serious as had been expected, and although some of the coal was of rather poor quality, it was probably the best procurable. There had been 146 fewe)r applicants than last year, although the second grants outnumbered last vear 's by 43. The balance-sheet showed that receipts had amounted to £767 19/8, and payments had been £68;) 7/5. The balance in hand was £249 4/4. Liabilities were nil and assets were £728 5/7. Subscriptions had fallen off considerably and the amount paid for coal and firewood had exceeded the subscription by £B7 11/1, although no blankets had been purchased. The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

The Mayor (Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.) emphasised the fact that subscriptions had fallen off considerably during the year. Old age pensioners were still inadequately supplied with money. They could not supply themselves with commodities at present-day prices with a pre-War pension. The chairman complimented the committee on the smooth running of affairs during the past year, for which great credit was due to the lady members.