The Dominion. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1915. A NATIONAL FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2473, 28 May 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1915. A NATIONAL FUND

The movement to secure the amalgamation of the funds which are now being raised in various parts of the Dominion to assist New Zealand soldiers and sailors who may be injured in the present war is so obvously reasonable that it would be most regrettable if its progress should be blocked by local jealousies or by any other manifestation of parochial exclusiveness. The arguments in support of the creation of a National Fund which were placed before the recent Conference of Mayors and officials of Patriotic Committees _ are so convincing that it is surprising that the meeting failed to make a c|efinite pronouncement in its favour. A final decision has not 'yet been reached, but it is to be hoped that all- those responsible for the collection and administration of the funds to which tho public is subscribing so liberally will soon see the wisdom of placing them on a national basis. The time has now come for settling this point. The crisis through which the Empire is at present passing has taught us to take broad views and to look at things from the national point of view. Many sectional obarriers have been broken down, and a spirit of unity and 00-operation pervades the whole Empire. It is the Dominion as a whole, one and indivisible, that has equipped and sent forth tho New Zealand soldiers to fight for the Empire, and it is the duty of the Dominion as a whole to look after the sick and the wounded. Business principles are at one with national sentiment in demanding that the money- which -is being raised for this purpose shall be administered m a -well-considered and systematic manner, and in order to -prevent overlapping and confusion, and to secure the best results in other respects, the formation of a National .Fund is absolutely essential. As one speakerat the Conference remarked, the maiii point to bo considered is not what district, a man may have come from, hut that he shall be fairly treated and well cared for. The separate administration of the moneys raised in various districts is bound to result in inequality of treatment, and would work out unfairly in other, ways. The financial burden would pross with undue heaviness on tho localities which send tho most men, whereas the strain would be least severe on the districts which provide the least number of soldiers. This would, of course, be quite contrary to the principle of equality of sacrifice. It must also be borno in. mind that no one can tell how tho casualties will bo distributed. The troops supplied by somo districts may suffer much more severely than those from' other places. The result would probably be that some of the local funds would be more than sufficient to meet the calls made upon them, while others would show a deficiency. Fair and equal treatment to all entitled to assistance can only be ensured by an effective system of amalgamation and control of all monoys by some representative body acting for tho whole Dominion. Some people are so strongly ofopinion that a form of national administration should be adopted that they have attached a condition to this effect to their donations. They want to see the whole thing properly organised on broad lines and placed on a sourid business footing. This means a clear and comprehensive scheme of. united action. The people of New Zealand are. determined that all the men who may be disabled in this war, and those dependent upon them, shall be adequately provided for. It is for this purpose that they are contributing so generously to the patriotic funds, and they are also prepared to pay whatever taxation may be found necesIt is not a question of charity, but it is a debt that must be paid. The honour of the nation .is at stake in this matter. Whatever our wounded soldiers may receive cither from the relief funds or m the form of State pensions, they will take as a right and not as a pauper's dole. The deputation which waited upon the Prime Minister on Wednesday was fully justified in laying stress _ on this point. The general public will certainly agree with the view expressed by the deputation that every man -.disabled should receive a pension as of right, irrespective of what his financial position may be. A man should not be compelled to prove himself a pauper. The contention of the Minister of Defence that this would mean that "the needy man will receive a smaller pension than the Government could otherwise grant" may be true, but it does not meet the real issue raised. If any distinction is made between the "needy man" and his comrades, the pension would at once become disfigured by the tinge of pauperism: The pensioii is something the men will have earned, and should be regarded as payment for services rendered to the State.' The Prime Minister was undoubtedly on firmer ground when lie expressed approval of the suggestion that- the pensions should be'awarded irrespective of the financial position of the recipients. He pointed out that this was the position in regard to Veterans' pensions, and it was the I rule he would like to sue observed in regard to soldiers serving in this war. Mr. jVh.ssKV realises that it, will cost money to give effect to this principle, but the Government and the'country must face it. The people uf New Zealand have no desire to shirk their share of the responsibility. and if the Government does the risrht t-binsr it ran sa.Wv vrk jijiwi tho of the country..'