8.—6

XXI

The actual expenditure for war purposes up to the 30th June, inclusive of liabilities, is estimated at, roughly, £3,500,000. Immediately after the Government decided to equip and despatch an Expeditionary Force an appeal was made to the public of New Zealand for gifts in money and in kind to assist the equipment and other necessary preparations The response was beyond all expectations, and the Government desires to express* its appreciation of the patriotism and generosity that were displayed. Up to the 31st March a sum of £159,137 had been subscribed in actual cash to assist the war expenses, but it must not bejsupposed that this sum represents the full measure of the subscriptions in in kind which the people of New Zealand gave through various channels tojjjassist our soldiers. The following are the services for which the sum of £159,137 was received and expended by the Government:— Money Contributions to the War Fund through Government Channels to the 31st March, 1915. £ s. d. General war purposes .. . . . . . . 144,499 810 School Ambulance Fund . . . . . . . . . . 2,279 9 8 Spring drays .. . . . . . . . . 40 1 0 Forage .. .. . . •. . . . 186 13 3 Sleeping-suits for hospital use . . .. .. .. 20 0 0 Loan to Government . . .. . . .. . . 100 0 0 Clothing .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 0 0 Hospital Fund, New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt . . 91 5 6 Oil for motor-cars .. . . .. .. .. . . 50 0 0 Quick-firing gun .. .. .. . . .. . . 247 0 0 Purchase of horses .. .. .. .. .. 3,175 17 10 Medical equipment .. .. .. .. .. 142 10 3 Ammunition-carts .. .. .. .. .. .. 92 1 3 Bicycle .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 800 Purchase of boots . . .. .. .. . . . . 12 2 0 Blanket Fund . . . . .. .. . . 2 2 6 Field Hospital and Ambulance Corps . . .. . . .. 50 0 0 Aeroplanes .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 Major operation surgical instruments .. .. .. 40 0 0 X-ray apparatus .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 0 Field ambulance .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,130 10 3 Comforts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56 4 0 Purchase of motors . . . . .. . . . . 1,618 4 6 Motor ambulances . . .. .. . . .. . . 3,788 7 8 Other receipts .. .. .. .. 246 9 3 £159,137 7 9 RELIEF FUNDS. On the outbreak of war the people of the Dominion, through the St. John Ambulance Association and local and central committees, with remarkable enthusiasm banded themselves together with the object of raising both money and gifts to meet the various necessities arising out of the war. Considerable contributions in money and kind were raised and expended in equipment locally; large sums were also raised and forwarded through various channels to central committees in London for relief purposes. Gifts in kind were equally generous; large quantities of meat, produce, clothing, and other goods were shipped to England for distribution to the needy of the United Kingdom and Belgium. In February last the Belgian Relief Committee in London, while appreciating to the fullest extent the magnificent assistance rendered by the people of Australia and New Zealand, were forced to recognize that if they were to continue to alleviate the sufferings of the seven millions who are still in Belgium in a systematic manner, this could only be done by organized effort, and with