THE PATRIOTIC FUND

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2477, 2 June 1915, Page 7

THE PATRIOTIC FUND

ITS REAL VALUE

THE HON. H. D, BELL'S YIEW

Representatives of sports bodies of the city met in tho Harbour Board's U shed last oyemng to consider tho best method ol combining forces to further the candidature cf Nurse l!,vei lit for tho Queen Carnival election. Mr. G. S. Hill presided over an attendance of about thirty. . Ihe Hon. H D. Bell, who had been invited to address tho meeting, made some very interesting remarks upon the value of the fund being raised by the iwnotic society for tho wounded soldiers. A great deal was heard, he said, about tho duty of tho country towards tho men, who might com© back wounded, and towards the families of those who would never come back— those who died on the field of battle. As it was the duty of the country to take care of tho wounded and of the dependents of those who were lost, the question might be asked: What is the se j°n bothering about tho Patriotic l'und. Mr. Bell went on to remark that whatever the country did would be dono uniformly. He did not mean to say that no difference would be mado between the men who had children and the men who had none, or that no difference would be made in the case of a mail who had been the support of aged parents, but when laying down the law it was impossible to discriminate between tho poor and the people who were better off. The experience in connection with the military pensions had led to tho country keeping them uniform, and a. man received his pension now whether he was well oft or poor. That would have to be more or less the caso with the men coming back from the war. }l a „ , was the "so 'of the Patriotic Fund? It meant that the people of the various districts would be able to discriminate in l -dealing with different cases. The casualty lists bad reached figures by which it could be seen that however liberal the pensions were made, there would be room for the Patriotic Fund. It was something which _ would be added to the great Dominion chest, and they were now being asked to help in the collection of a fund which would be a trifle to the national obligation. But it would enablo the people to distinguish between cases. The necessity of everyone lending a hand could be seen. That raised the question: What could they do P They could all join in the undertaking, and those i who could not help with large contributions from their own purse could hold out the hat and make all feel that everyone was convinced that it was his concern, and that here was the chance to do something for country and Empire. As president of the Star Boating Club, president of the Cricket Association, and a former president of Rugby, ho could claim a right to speak to them, and he urged them to work together for the success of the Sports candidate.

Mr. L. M'Kenzie, in moving a. vote of thanks to the Hon. Mr. Bell, said that his speech had provided a reply to those who stood back from the present movement and sheltered behind a proposed war tas. Mr. D. D. Weir, who seconded the motion, declared that the Minister's statement of the position would rouse the sports bodies to action. The motion Was carried by acclamation.