Historical information
The President's Fund was created in 1932 by a donation from Legatee Walter W Berry from his late father's estate "to help temporarily embarrassed Melbourne Legatees" towards the end of The Great Depression.
The aim of the fund was the give the President a way to help needy cases with discretion and without having to gain approval from committees. In many cases the money was repaid by the recipient.
The letter dated 16 March 1935 was to the trustees of the Howard and Georgina Benevolent Fund outlines the way the fund was to be used at the President's discretion within the guidelines provided by Legatee Berry. That included members of Melbourne Legacy Club or Junior Legatees, or any returned soldier that couldn't obtain help anywhere else. From the pencil note it was never sent.
This document was in a folder labelled President's Fund Origin and Authorisation with many other documents that included correspondence, receipts of donations and material about when money was given to help appropriate cases.
The folder was marked with H40 which is part of an early archive project from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Significance
The President's Fund was a significant help to legatees and junior legatees who were unable to obtain help from other sources.
Physical description
White Legacy letterhead with black type, a letter from President Hall to The Trustees of the Howard and Georgina Berry Fund.
Inscriptions & markings
Handwritten 'Letter never cent' in pencil and signed 'R M Hall' in black ink.
