THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1920. PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15309, 24 February 1920, Page 4

THE COLONIST. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1920. PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

The Advisory Board of the Federation of .Patriotic Societies Is asking for the views of affiliated bodies on the future disposal of their funds, and the request has led to some useful discussions and proposals. The need for the distribution of monetary aid lias by no means ceased. Civil occupations Live found weak spots in returned soldiers, physical weaknesses due ito war service, and generally there is an element of uncertainty a.s to what calls may yet be made on the funds. The official view of a Southern committee has been thus stated; "While the need of assistance to sick «nd wounded members of the forces still exists, and the demand for relief in necessikms cases continues as at present, it- is thought inadvisable to determine a policy for the utilisation of the balance of patriotic funds that will preclude the granting of relief as at present. The difficulty of estimate ing the money that may be required for this purpose is plainly apparent, and in view'of the nature of the cases which have during the past year or two been appearing before the committee it is held tha ; t no departure should bo made from the present sysgranting relief. The committee have noted ivith no little concern the large number, of cases of men who, after having been discharged for periods of over two and three years, have, under the strain of their civil occupations, broken down in health, and to those men some measure of assistance from patriotic funds is due until their pensions have been granted or increased. For many such cases the pension has been gradxially decreased, or perhaps wiped out altogether, and the consequent reconsideration of the pension claim involves in most instances a lengthy period during which relief must be granted! The number of tubercular, neurasthenic, etc., patients winch are to be found among the later reinforcements only increase this difficulty; and, though many of these men have been absorbed again in civil occupation, tlieir consequent and even early breakdown must be anticipated, and the heavy t-laims which these cases will prove on'rpa-triot-ic funds must be provided for/