CANTEEN AND PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Chronicle (Levin), 6 April 1946, Page 2

CANTEEN AND PATRIOTIC FUNDS

AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL DENIED. WELLINGTON, April 5. "Tliere are uo Government proposals tor tlie ainalgamation of the two boards and their respoctive funds, " said Colonel 0. O. Bell, Dominion vice-presiden: of the N.Z.R.S.A., today, in a statement on " misconception of and Press comiiient on proposals for the ainalgamation of the Oanteen Board's funds and the N ational Patriotic Fund Board's funds of the 1939-45 war, approxim.tting £2,000,000. " The only proposal for ainalgamation eame from the N ational I'atriotic Fund Board itself and tlie principle of amalgamation was unaniiuously . approved by botli boards, and also by the Patriotic Oonferenee, lie said. The Prime Minisfcer was advised of this and an outline given hira how this miglit be uchievcd. The comments of the. board members on the metliod were to be referred to a sub-committee whicli would collate them and place thcm before the provincial patriotic committces for discussion. The Dominion exeeutive eommittee of the N.Z.R.SrA. approved in principle of the amalgamation of the funds for reasons of reduced cost of and more effeetive administration, and with one exception the objects of both fnnds are similar. There is no suggestion of State or Government control, Colonel Bell said, in the administration of the funds. The suggestions to effeet amalgamation oiitiined a proposed board on whieh a representative of the.Trea.surv and Internal Affairs Departinent would be members. "At present tlie Secretary to the Treasury is a member of both the Canteen and National Patriotic Fund Boards and no exception seems to have been talcen, as all the funds are rightly subject to Government audit. No doubt tliat is one of the reasons for his membership. ' ' The Internal Affairs Department administered the Patriotic Purposes Regulations of 1939 and under those regulations the present National Patriotic Fund Board was set up by tlie Minister. The boards liad been set up in a similar manner during the 1914-1S war. The N.Z.R.S.A. has been continnall.v reoresented on both boards and tliere has been no interference by anv Government in the administration of sueh funds. Personnel of Board. "Tlie personnel of anv proposed board is a matter for disenssion anl consideration, but it must be obvious to everyone that the donors of the funds as well as the donees should be represented, ' ' Colonel Bell said. Thn only .proper method of appoint-ment was for the appointments to be made by the Govemor-General in Council on the nomination of the various bodies or associations interested. Referring to the use of civil servants on the staff of anv proposed board, Colonel Bell said that the staff of the National Patriotic Fund Board, since its inception, had been seconded from the Internal Affairs Department and the salarics paid by the Government, whicli had by this means akuie contributed a substantial sum to p^^otic funds. The oflicers had given excellcnt serviee and ;t was intended to continue this. A sum of £400,000 had been set aside by agreement between the .Toint Council of St.. Joliu -tuul the Red Cross and the National Patriotic Fund Board for sick and wounded, and it was proposed to give cfifect to this in anv amalgamation. The funds at present held by Provincial Patriotic Councils would continue to be held and administcred by Provincial Councils as autonomous bodies, whether or not amalgamation was effectcd. "The proposals are as yet inde'linite and will not be finalised in anv way un lil Provincial Patriotic Councils have

cnnsidered things, " Colonel Bell. said. "The N.Z.R.S.A. is vitally interested in the matter. It is its chief concern, and feels sure the chief concern of all parties is to see that the fund is administered with the least possihle' ratio of cost and for the greatest bcnefit. It has forwarded a eomprehensive cireular to all branches • for consideration and comment, and on receipt of the replies a fully considered policy statement can be made."