CANTEEN FUNDS.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18874, 18 February 1933, Page 6

CANTEEN FUNDS.

THE RELIEF MONEYS. ' THE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS. BOARD'S ANNUAL REPORT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The annual report and balancesheet of the New Zealand Expeditionary’ Force Canteen and Regimental Funds Trust Board shows ;.the total funds at February 1, 1933, to be £198,214, of which £193,071 Is invested at an average interest rate of 5 per cent., after allowing for interest reductions and stamp duty imposed by the National Expenditure Adjustment Act, 1932. Relief expenditure during the year exceeded interest earnings by £4449, thus reducing the capital funds by that amount. Having in mind the funds which are still available for relief purposes in the hands of various patriotic associations throughout the Dominion, the Canteen Board reaffirmed its policy of preserving its funds as far as possible for future relief when these other funds become exhausted in the near future, as the experience of previous wars has shown the necessity of such a fund many years after a war Is over.

However, in view of the pressing needs of unemployed men under the present economic conditions, the board felt bound to do its utmost to meet the circumstances by continuing its grants of £ISOO a month for distribution through the headquarters executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association in the relief of distress caused by unemployment. The following resolution was passed by the board at its meeting to-day:—■ “ That the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association be informed that the board does not approve of any part--01 the allocations made under its grants being used for the payment of administrative expenses or for subsidising clubs, medical or otherwise. The board reaffirms its desire and intention that grants should be made available to all ex-members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, irrespective of whether they are members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association or not. The reason actuating the board in its decision to make these grants through the medium of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was the fact that that body is the recognised representative organisation of returned soldiers, with branches in all parts of the Dominion, which are in touch with, and have local knowledge of, the cases in their respective districts, and as a general rule are working in co-opera-tion with local bodies and other organisations.”

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION. POSITION OF FUNDS. WELLINGTON, Friday. In the House of Representatives notice has been given by Mr A. Harris (Government —Waitemata) that in connection with the Canteen Fund a return he placed before members showing (1) tho original amount of the canteen funds; (2) the names of the original and present trustees, and by what authority appointed; (3) details of tho sums from time to time invested on mortgage, and losses if any; (i) the sums loaned to the PubPublic Trustee, other Government departments, private individuals and ether sums disbursed; (5) the present total of the funds and how’invested; (G) the sum expended in scholarships and how many awarded; (7) the sum expended on disabled soldiers’ reestablishment; (8) the annual remuneration to members of the board and members of the staff.