PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 99, 11 December 1939, Page 3

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

>d the arrival of comforts from our Homeland so many thousands of mi lies away—Fn-m those who kept :he home fires burning so that the boys who were far away dreamnd of home. And those of us who have occupied executive positions in the U.S.A. ci'so know what a wonderful >>on the Patriotic Funds subscriber! n 15)1-1-18 have been to the ex-sol-iior ever since."

NO CONTROL BY GOVERNMENT

AVOIDANCE OF OVERLAPPING

"Fox - some weeks past appeals have been made over the air to the people of New Zealand to subscribe to the National Patriotic Fund which is being raised for the purpose of providing comforts and amenitiesfor members of our Armed Forces and the Mercantile Marine. I regret to say that the response so far has been disappointing in the extreme." said the Plon. W. Perry, in a broadcast address. "There is a widespread belief that the Patriotic Funds being raised for tliis war are under the control of the Oovcrnment. This belief is* wholly erroneous. Let me try to placc the exact position before you. To do this, it is advisable first to refer to the methods of raising patriotic funds which obtained in the Great War of 1914-18. After the outbreak of war, collectors and collecting agencies sprang up all over New Zealand with the result that there came into existence some six hundred separate War Funds and nearly one thousand collecting agencies; the result being that, although huge* sums were subscribed, the**e was much overlapping and wasteful expenditure. The War Funds Ac!". 1915, remedied this state of affairs in some degree but this Act mainly established a system of registration and audit but did not provide for any control over methods of raising funds or overlapping of effort.

Twelve Community Chests

Under the Patriotic Purposes Emer gency Regulations 1930 such provision is made but these regulations do not bring the funds subscribed

Tor patriotic purposes under Govern ment control. There are established involve community chests comprising a General Fund known as The National Patriotic Fund and eleven Provincial Funds. The National Patriotic Fund will he administered by the National Patriotic Fu*V Board of which His Excellency the Governor-General is Chairman «nd is cons'itui-cd by the reguinj Uons a Body Corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal. Cheoues drawn upon this fund will he signed by the secretary and two members of the board and by no one else. The eleven Provincial Patriotic Funds will be administered by the eleven Provincial Patriotic Councils and each Provincial Patriotic Council will be the authority controlling the expenditure of the Provincial Patriotic Fund.

To enable such expenditure to lie made to the best advantage the Provincial Patriotic Council is empowered to appoint as its agent any society or other body of persons which by the nature of Its objects and the machinery of its organisation is specially fun-.lined to exnend moneys

Tor any parlien'av purpose. As an example, what belter body could we "ntrust with the earc of any soldier who may be blinded in the war. than the Commercial Travellers Association who have done such great work for the Tilind Soldiers of the last war at such infinitesimal cost. The National Fund. The National Fund will lie one to which it is hoped and felt that moneys will be contributed both by the people generally and by Provincial Councils for purposes for which expenditure can best be made bv a national body. In particular, all moneys for expenditure overseas must be paid into the National Fund. Already the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army have been appointed National Expending Agents fo~ the work within the camps and the work within the camps and the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and Mie New Zealand Red Cross Society National Expending Agents for the sick and wounded. There is also constituted under the regulations a National PatrioticCouncil which will act as an advisory bodv to the Minister upon the methods and means of raising monies '"or Patriotic Purposes and as to the classes, kinds and quantities of comforts or amenities immediately required within specified future periods and many other matters. Conferences have already been held of delegates from the National Patriotic Fund Board, the National Patriotic Council and the Provincia' Patriotic Councils for the purpose ->f eliminating competition and overlapping between these bodies. I repeat and re-emphasise that none of the moneys subscribed and none of 'he goods donated or purchased will be under the control of the Government. A Wonderful Boon. Those of us who had the privilege >'n the last war will never forget the joy with which we greet-