RELIEF FUNDS FOR VARIOUS OBJECTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2423, 31 March 1915, Page 6

RELIEF FUNDS FOR VARIOUS OBJECTS

—; » THE GOVERNMENT SCHEME PROPOSALS IN DETAIL IN OPERATION TO-MORROW The details of the scheme under which the Government will transmit and subsidise contributions lor the relief of the starving population of Belgium have been committed to print, iu the iorm of a circular to be forwarded to iua.vors of cities and boroughs and others who have been at the head of I'ullee.ting, agencies throughout the Dominion. The circular, which is issued by the Minister of Finance, is as follows: — Resolutions at the Conference. I have the honour to advise \ou that at the recent conference of patriotic associations and St. John's Ambulance Association held in "Wellington, presided over by His Exccllcncy the Governor, tho following resolutions were passed:— 1. That tho Government be recommended to make a definite grant of £5000 per month, and, in addition, to subsidise at tho rate of pound for pound all voluntary subscriptions up to any amount not exceeding £'5000 per month raised in New Zealand for the relief of the Belgian nation. 2. That voluntary subscriptions bo asked for on a population basis. 3. That "a central' authority be appointed by; the Minister of Finance for dealing witjb. tho transmission of all both, in money and kind, for relief of the'poor in the United Kingdom uid Belgium. 4. That .all donations-in. money for Red Cross purposes be sent direct from the centres of the association 'of St. John in the Dominion to the headquarters in London. Further, that tho lbovc-meiitioncd authority, appointed Jy the Minister of Finance, should bo available .for making all arrangements u connection with the transmission of >ther gifts.contributed in Now Zealand or Red Gross purposes, which in tho irst instance should be sent to tho rarious centres of the Order of St. John u accordance with the working arrangenents arrived at between tho Association of St. John and the Red Cross society in the United Kingdom. In - connection therewith I have to liform you that the following scheme las been decided .uponBelgian Fund. . 1. That the mayors of all cities and loroughs, Belgian consuls, chairmen of .'ount.v councils, road boards, town )oa rds, and chairmen of committees of foor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium, and of patriotic committees bo idvised the resolutions passed at the louference. 2. That the, Minister of Finance has ippointed the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, "Wellington, as the central authority. 3. That the date for the scheme to »me into operation be April 1. 4. That the Dominion oe divided aclording to provincial districts, and the imount to be subscribed by-each provincial district be on a population basis, which would work out as fo l lows:— Provincial Amount District. • £ Auckland 1325 Taranaki 250 Hawkc's Bay 242 ■ "Wellington 978 Marlborough SO Nelson 239 Vest-land , 78 Canterbury 856 Ofago H49 Southland 2U4 Total 5000 C. That the chairmen of all existing committees and Belgian consuls who i'ave been collecting moneys or goods lor tho poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium, and the chairmen of all patriotic committees should arrange ivitb. the mayors of the principal eitiei. ar towns in each provincial district to remit their contributions to the UnderSecretary of Internal Affairs, Wellington, or, failing this, such committees should themselves remit direct to the Under-Secretary. "Whichever course jommitteos decide to take it is earnestly hoped that no fresh organisations will ho started, and that those who liave hitherto sent their contributions fo a particular l'uud will continue to do so G- That it is not intended to interfere m any way with the excellent work that is being undertaken by the various organisations. On tho contrary, it is desired to assist and encourage existing activities. "With this object in view, tho Department of Internal Affairs will, ir required, provide assistance to Central Committees. In addition, the Department will defray the cost of printing and postage on all correspondence in connection with tho fund, such cotrespondence to bo specially marked l: On Belgian Business Only." 7. That all subscriptions for the pomin Belgium be paid into tile public account at any branch of the Bank of New Zealand, and the bank receipt forwarded to tho Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, "Wellington. 8. That, in order to ensure that tho eilorT'is as far as possible continuous, where iu any month the amount remitted by any provincial district to the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Wellington, is in excess of that provincial district's quota, such excess will b'e credited towards the following month's contributions. !). That in the event of any moneyi raised for tt he poor in Belgium being, sent direct- to the Under-Secretary of Internal.Affairs, "Wollington, such sums will _be_ credited to the quota of the provincial-district -concerned, and the eential conimittcc bo advised accordingly ' 10. That in accordance with a telegram. received from the Socretary of State for the Colonies on March 25 by His Excellency the Governor, the Government of' New Zealand propose to remit tho monthly donations and the sub. sidy to the Higb Commissioner for New Zealand, to he handed to the Belgian Minister for distribution to the Commission which has been set up for dealing with the relief of Belgians iu Belgium. His Excellency will also inform the Secretary of State monthly of the suriis forwarded in this manner. 11. The advantages of the suggestions of tho conference are:— (a.) The subsidy by the Government of pound for pound on all subscriptions up to £5000 per month. (b.) Providing- a regular source of revenue for the relief of the poor in Belgium. (c.) The transmission free of charge of all sums to the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. Other Relief Funds. 12. That while' a subsidy of pound for pound up to £5000 per month is paid only on subscriptions for the poor in Belgium, it is desired that all amounts received for the poor in Great Britain and Ireland, and for kindred funds be also forwarded to the UnderSecretary of Internal Affairs, "Wellington. The advantages to be gained thereby are:— (a.) Thn centralisation of the amount subscribed. (IO It will enable the Minister of Finance to present to the public of Nov Zealand at a later date a statement sbuwrni; the total iu money and

kind contributed by them to the various funds for the relief of the distress caused bv the war. (c.) Tlio Government undertakes to transmit such sums to England free of nharge, and to arrange all payments to the several funds through tlio High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. 13. That His Majesty's Government have notified His Excellency that they consider the needs of Belgium, Serbia, and Montenegro are pressing, and that fluids are not required at the present time for the relief of distress in the United Kingdom. 1-1. That as the Secretary of State has intimated to His Excellency that with regard to Serbia and Montenegro tlio needs are urgent, particularly in respect to hospital equipment and medical aid, if any one desires to subscribe to these needs the New Zealand Government propose that the same organisations which collect for Belgian relief should lie utilised, and that the funds should lie forwarded to the Under-Sec-retary of Internal Affairs, "Wellington, iu a similar manner. The Imperial Authorities have notified to His Excellency that it would be better to forward money rather than goods in kind for this purpose. Cifts in Kind. 1 !>. All gifts in kind except frozen produce for the relief of the poor iu flreat Britain, Ireland, and Belgium are, if suitable for shipment, to be notified the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Wellington, who will mako ihe necessary arrangements for free >ailage, freight, and shipment to the Hi;;h Commissioner fur New Zealand, for distribution to the proper authorities. In regard to frozen produce, arrangements ill respect to railage, freight, and shipment to continue to be made through central committees. IG. That cases have occurred where moneys and gifts in kind have heen forwarded direct to ihe High Commissioner. It is specially requested that these shall in future bo sent through the Government. Order of St. John. ]?. That as the Order of St. John is undertaking work for Red Cross purposes, it is suggested that fhe money should be cither sent direct to St. Jnlm's Gate as liitVierto hy the. four centres, or if desired through ihe Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Wellington, as the amounts would in the latter case bo then transmitted froe. If the former course is adopted a 70turn of moneys sent should be (iuly notified as hitherto to His Excellency, as president, who will forward it to the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs. That gifts in kind contributed in New Zealand for Red Cross purposes which, in the first instance, should bo sent through the various centres of the Order of St. John in accordance with the working arrangement arrived : at between the Association of St. John and the Red Cross Society of the United Kingdom be transmitted to the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, Wellington, who will make arrangements For free shipment to tlio headquarters in London. 11l submitting these proposals to you I am confident that you will as far as lies ill your power, co-operate with your follow-citiscens in carrying to a successful issue these very deserving undertakings.—l have, etc., JAS. ALLEN, Minister of Finanec.