PATRIOTIC AND CANTEEN FUNDS

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1946, Page 8

PATRIOTIC AND CANTEEN FUNDS

-Press Association

By Telegrcivh-

WELLINGTON, J uly 3J.A suggestion for tlie future administration of tlie Patriotic and Canteen fuuds, whicli " niay lie found aceeptable to the National Patriotic Fund Board, Returned Gerviccmen's Association, and Hoiue . Ecrvicenien's Association, was madc a/..the end of a'long confereuce betweeu represenfeiitives of tlie organisations interested inYfclifr,,niatter, held under the chairnianship of fSir William Perry tonight. It was that a Board consisting of three rcpresentatives 'of the R.G.A. and three of tlie Honie Servicenien's Association, be set up to administer the Canteen funds, that tliese six representatives sliould have sole control of tlie funds and at tlie same time be menibers of a board probably of about 20 menibers, whicli would control the Patriotic funds. Tlie same seeretariat would serve both boards. The meeting agreed to the proposal as a recoiiunendation for discussion, the respective delegations expressing personal opinions in its favour but stating that the linal decision must be made by tlicir organisation. J.11 addition to the representatives mentioned, representatives of tlie Canteen Board and other organisations attended tlie meeting whicli was held at the instance of the National Patriotic Board following opposition to its proposals for the amalgamation of the two funds under one_ board. Mr. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, said all tlie money had to be spent on the men and if the fund were invested at 2 per eent. interest, it would be necessary to spend at the rate of about £200,000 yearly if it were to be done in 40' years, whicli it was. estimated would j be the extent of llie demand. Rep lying to a question by tlie Doiniiiion viye-president of the R.S.A., Mr. C. O. Bell, the cliairman said a sum of about £10,000 Was held by tlie Board on aeeouut of tlie Joint Council of the Order of St. John and Red Cross. The Society 's sick and wounded fund would revert to the central fund when it was tio longer required. Alr. Bell explained the attitude of tlie R.S.A. Dominion conference. It was felt the Canteen funds were the eoncern of servicemen alone. They felt the servicemen should control them. O11 behalf of tlie Home Servicemen 's Association, its JJominiou president, Mr. R. P. Levien, said it .was not coneerned in any way with what was dOne witli tlie Patriotic liunds but it was definitely concerued to see "that the Canteen fund was preserved for the use of both overseas and home servicemen. O11 the motion of Alr. Bell, the meeting uuanimously agreed that any decentralisation of tlie Central Patriotic fund sliould be opposed. After further discussion the cliairman said he felt a feasible proposal was for a Canteen Funds Administration Board of three representatives of each of the ex-service organisations, working with the larger Patriotic Funds Board, of which they would also be menibers, and with the same seeretariat but with separate trust accounts. Tlie meeting adopted the suggestion for discussion by the . organisations concerued.