CONTROL OF RELIEF FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2504, 3 July 1915, Page 12

CONTROL OF RELIEF FUNDS

' . v- — : — 1 — ■■ ;-v.-, PROVINCIAL SCHEME <AS BASIS FOR NATIPNAL-IDEA PRINCIPLES ADOPTED .... 0..u; . : A' : conference was held' yesterday '•'•to consider propi)sals"to put tlie relief funds' .for .wpupded soldiors. and their "dependents upSn some form of national, or wide dis'trict, basis. The Afayor (Mr. J. P. Lv.ke) presided, anil on tlio'platform ivitli him wem Sjr Jqhn JJiadlay, jC.C.,'and Mr.: C. Wow about fifty present, including representatives - from various parts ; of tno 'i'aranaly, AVairarapa",' liawke's.Bay, aud.Wellington districts- : s'l'lie Mayor said that hp hop&l that ft grow- 1 out "of thejr. ''efforts .' He pointed' .out' .that/JE? Skerfett' : iuid, Sir John' '•Findlay ' : hiidvdrai|ii ,iip: a set of suggestions for 'the"' a.'cOninioh'.fund for tlie .whole district -of .Wellington,. Hawke's Bay, and Taraiiaki. • . .' i jiThe Scheme .Explained. (itr. SE&rett &cpia'ined, that the circular .the result: of l ai. informal'conference at which lie and *Sir Jotii; : Mndlay;{weV6: rgqudstfed to draw Something ;;:-ui).'. : :'as*i i-ybusis ;of' provincial ■cintrol. :thati'conference .they'had' all bean agre&l- form' of National fl'und slTo'uldobe established.;'- It was found difficult''localise i'of -tlie refusal of- some , gd : . Sir John Findlay •and-, lieidreivJ'UP : 'tbe 'resolutions to have ,as ,wide'a.district, as possible.'with a pooling of funds/."'They had constituted it so' that the District Committee could later enter into'any national scheme.' He produtline> national, scheme'ivliich.' had been-suggested, to"him. The reasons.; for the- existence:of a national organisatioivho,said, 'Were : the necessity for uniformity .'of administration, and uniformity in thp 'rate or relief. Some .districts.might' confine/themselves, to. tbqso who wdntrfrouV tiifeir own districts, while' otherV; might admiuister it as', from the domicile 'of . tlio soldier .at the time; of. eiilistuieiit^v'That.'.would mean difficulties. Some .districts,-ag'aiiii : might pay one rate, and: some .auotlier.V'But tho great reason , for a National I'und vvas tho inequality of contributions from different districts. Tho richer , districts - would of course .(subscribe more than; tho',poorer districts;? Then .again-tlie.ro were more recruits from some districts." They' would agree that equitable; should be made, so that no soldier or his dependents, would be without relief. '.. .'- •.• ,; Equal Rate of Relief. v The second point was that ■ the 6amß rate should'.be paid. ■ Applications for relief would' be assigned to tlfe .district best ab!o to deal with them.. There were two ways to do ;this:', First,. pooling of . the funds, or federation 01' districts,; with Borne, central'organisation; -. Tho'pooling" of, the "funds be difficult, but- tho federation of districts/would be easier. Tho', suggestions had Keen made to liinu and lie had. put- tlieiu together; as. a possible forui r ',of'federation. The first conBideratioii/would be that .the funds o'f. o'ach "disttiisfewould. be regarded as V part . of the' National JTu'nd,. although , controlled by local'committees, Hinder the direction of a',Central Committee. The Dominion Executive; would'consist of a president, and fivo members, elected- annually by a confgrenco .of. delegates .from, the-local committees'.- / l'he..'-annual conference would either itself fix- the uniform scale of'relief, or.leavo it to the executive. ,The executive; would have to see'that tho uniform, rate, was paid' by all (ibmmitteos, . and ':tlipy would define boundaries of districts, .the compilation-of ; a roll,/determine all questions arising 'among local committees, etc. They , would also hairo power to determine the. amount -of ,levies,' to be -paid by districts ill a good fiiiahbial position to .those which' had depleted':'; their funds ,or--- for 1 sonjo' reiisoii funds had' been established. This would provide for every' scldiiit-. * < A: Provincial Schome. v 'JJr.YSkerrett weht-'on _!o .explain .that •theidifficulties in;theway of a.National" l f 'und 'at'';pHsent:necessitated some'' scheme, tfud'the schenio he had outlined in the circular ' before the meeting/involved the pooling of all funds' in the Wellington, Hawke's Bay, and Taranaki district)).- Provision; would, under it,' be' mndo . that, a local, committee could provide urgent relief. It-might be that some ,elect/;to remain' out of'the schemeand provision->yas made forthat-.; ' : . -. ;..j '.' / '-'■■■ ' Mr.'.' Skerrett "went on to:explain : : the' sections .'of-; the circular.•; Paragraph •I,' hi..saidi..;did J ..n6t ;pro'vide for . those incapacitated by illness, but .that could be provided for ; also a suggestion had .been made to allow the setting up of an unemployment agency. The various suggestions"'for, the-control of tho fund.were set' out as'folloW'—

(1). That a fund be constituted, called ■fThe,-.War Solwf : Fund •"'(Wellington, Hawke's' Bay,'kfid Taranaki .Branch)," for the following purposes:—(a) For the. relief and benefit of New Zealand wounded soldiers and sailors and of those in any way-dependent on,.tliem;. (b) for the relief' arid Fenefit of tliose in any ,way. dependent i on Nl»w Zealand soldiers or sailors who. have died or -may die while serving their country.-either iii Now Ziß.land or ftlsmvh'ero, -.The'fuud."filiall bo for the relief; and benefit not only of soldiers and sailors wluj wero. ;'are. members of any New .Zealand,force"or of: the New Zealand. Navy, ..but'.also of, soldiers and sailors who are either,KTew Zealanders by birth, domicile,. or.-"adoption, -and,- have joined or will- join: His Majesty's Army or'-Navy in any part of the world, and those in any way fdependont-on .them. -. ■, (2) It is ■ expressly '--declared, that the fiiild is intended/.'to' be in augmentation of'tany pension: or assistance .which the NeV. Zealand of, English Government may grant to Newi-Zealand soldiers or sailors, ■and any', relief'cr,;assistanco granted from.the! fund'oiitfh't;:v not Jn :<iny -way, to diminish or affect the Governrtient-peiision or assistance. - ":; ' ! i •"' , (3) The fund: is intended to afford relief within the area constituting the provincial districts of {"Wellington,, Hawke's '• Bay, and Taranaki/ hereinafter called - the "Fund District.".: Should -ah? borough :orother, district, twithin the Fund District decline to-amalgamate with the fund, then the Executive. Committee shall liavo power, from-time to time to exclude such borough 0" other district from - tho Fund district; Rut'the Executive Committee may . from time to time add to : tlie t Fund District any borough or district which' may de-. sire., to amalgamate.iwith the fund.' Vesting Existing Funds. . (4). Proper, steps, shall be.-taken,to,vest the .existing funds' and any future contri. butioris thereto in the following trustees, namelv:—The Mayors for tlie timo being of Wellington, -Masterton, Hastings, Napier, Palnlerston North, Feildiog, Wangainii, New Plymouth, and Levin. Provided, | however, that'if any of tho said boroughs | shall-decide. : not-to amalgamate with tho fund,, tlicil tho Mayor of such' borough • shall not bo'a, trustee of but tho Executive Committee' may take ..such, stepn asiaro necessary to add;as trustee tho •Mayoc of ;any borough which may desire to" amalgamate . with the . fund. Tho trustees Co hate power to invest 'any funds not for tho ti-aio -being required in any form, of investment authorised by,'law for the invostment of 'trust funds, and..to deposit moneys at interest, with bank, corporation, or. company of whoso. financial stability they may . be satisfied. (0). Tlie fund shall bo administered.by an Executive Committee. The members of such committee' shall hold office for[ three years. 'The first members of such committee shall ponsist, of tho following gentlemon: (To bo appointed). Before the exi_)irj\ of; the three-, years the Executive Committee-shall adopt a by-law prescribing 'tho bitiisi' manlier, and condition ill or upon Vliich members of tlfc Executive Coinmitteo shall on tho expiry of tho said threo years-bo-in; future appointed. In case) for any reason/ any vacancy shall occur inl <the Executive Committee, tho Executive Committee 1 for the being shall' appoint a "member to fill : such vabancy; In case any borough or district shall desire to amalgamate with" tho fund, Itiien the Executive ComifriUeo shall apijgoiftt ta-represggt gush, kopjflgh'oi: "dgtaict

such additional liieinber or members o£ the Executive Committee as it sh'all think proper. The trustees for the time being of tlio fund shall be ex officio members of tho Executive 'Committee. ' '

' (G) Tlio llxecutive Committee shall elect its own chairman, who shall have both au original and a casting vote, and tho Executive Committee may from time to time pass by-laws or' regulationsH'egnlating its procedure.. The Executive ,Comappoint ..a sub-comiiiittce not exceeding — in. number to be as reprs.sentative as .possible of tlie various, boroughs and districts served by the l'uml. Such iv. committee shall bo called tho "inner Committee/' and tho Executive Committee may delegate to the Inner Committee such of its powers and. duties as. it may from timo to time-think proper. The Inner Committee shall appoint its own chairman, wbo shall have a noriginal und a casting vote, and shall be empowered to reguate .its owii procedure., Local Committees. -'(7) The Executive, Committee shall from time to timo appoint local committees for convenient districts within tho Fund Dis-I-trict, and empower thein to investigate and'determine applications tor the grant M aid to all cases where'the applicant is actually resident in such, district; and tup determination' of eacii such local committee shall bo adopted, and ciirriecl/into ell'cct by the I'lxecutive Committee,, uiiless such determination., shall lie in breach >of any uniform-'system or scale of relief for the tiiiie being.; adopted ; by the Executive Committee,-or unless 'for."some, grave reason, to'ljo stated by the Executive Committee, it shall.resolve that tho determination, of the local committee ought not to b-: adopted.. (S) Tiie Executive Committee shall-havo : full ;powe,r aud''. authority to ■ administer tho iund and troin tiiiie-to time toviiiterpret and determine the scope and general objects 0 ftlio, fund, «n<l without derogating from the•''■ preceding - generality, snail tavo .the following'powers:—(a) it shall investigate all'-applications, for relief and assistance'from :tn«^"funds, and its decision to grant/ or- refuse .any. .application shati be" final' aiid : conclusive, and shall not be,'questioned', in 'any/ Court; (b); it : shall t'rom time to time dotermine the 6c'ale or fate- at which, relief or assistance" shall bo given from the fund, and, so far .as possible, may .adopt in conjunction with other similar 'organisations in, New Zealand a uniform Dominion scale or rate of relief'assistance;, (c) it may, grant in all cases where' the . aiiplicant for relief is resident' within the; district- of tho fund, but it -may. - also, if it thinks proper, grant, relief in, the case of wounded soldiers or - sailors , or the dependents of wounded or dead soldiers or sailors who may not, be resident within the district; (d) it-may arrange with similar organisations in the Dominion to divide iip aud apportion to the various funds in .New Zealand all applications for relief from the fund and similar funds, and tako such steps as are necessary to prevent applicar tions for relief beinf granted by more fund or any improper exploitation of the fund; (e) ,it may. pay grants out of the fund in augmentation of tho fund of any similar organisation in' New Zealand in-case it shall be, satisfied that tlie funds of such organisation - are insufficient to provide adequate relief within , its district, or in such other . circumstances as it "shall deem pi'pper,. of it may itself provide relief and assistance in proper cases 'joutside its own district where no provisioii or no adequate provision is. made fob the relief of such casrn; (f) generally it may, administer; and distribute its funds in such, manner and upon such principles, as it' shall in the exercise of its discretion deem 'advisable for carrying out tlie'purposes for which the fund was .created; '(g) 'it ijlay, employ and pay out. of, the. fund such-clerical and otllor assistance 'as ,' may - be — required in t!)e ' administration of ' the fund, (h) It'may, if it shall think proper.,so to do,-uiake contributions out of tlie fund . not exceeding. in the whole 25 per cent, thereof to ,any,braifclc. of St. John -Ambulance- Society in' New' Zealand or "to 'tiny guilds or committees whose members arc working lor tho benefit, of any hospital w:bich may be ■ established for New Zealand soldiers and sailors, upon being satisfied- that such contributions' will • be exclusively.. devoted.. to the comfort, assistance, or treatment of New Zealand soldiers and sailors 'who have been or 6hall.be woiiiided or'incapacitated'in the course of the war. , ■ /, Desire for Dominion F,und. (9) It is declared that it is desired that .a Dominion I'und may hereafter be estab: disked., for providing throughftut tlie/Do-i imihion' ahd assistance 'contera-; ,plate<l.-;by/,;tlie. fund, • and the;' executive; .•committee'/ shall have' power to amalgaand pay over its funds to such Dominion organisation upon such terms and' conditions as it shall think proper to rffluire for- the purpose of providing for ' the adequate representation of tho several districts ,of the Fund District'-on the executive ..body administering sucli, .Dominion I'und, and- for the purpose of securing that relief'and assistance.with\in th.o Fund District shall thereafter bo adequately administered by, the. executive body of the Dominion Eund.

(10) The trustees shall; bound to pay ■oyer to or l\v the directioi} of tho 'executive' comniittec all' Such moneys its it may require in the, course of its administration of .the fund, and .the receipt of the,executive committee in a "form to be proscribed by-, it shall be a sufficient discharge to the. trustees "for l each such payment.. •Mr. H. G..'Hill said that tho great desire ,\va's to do.what was right; not to make, difficulties, but to'overcome them. If . some schemo as was 6uggestejl .was adopted they would hand over their •funds, with. on 6 reservation which they had decided on, allowing societies working for the relief of the soldiers to have a claim, on the' l fund., Wairarapa's Position, : of the ,'Wiiirarapa "Patri--obo-' Etod '(Jtr. :H;, Morrison) said-.that' the delegates from. iVairarapa had come down for information, and-couk( not decide on any. action til! they laid the matter before the donors,. Personally they favoured a national Scheme ,by federation, as outlined by: Mr.S- Skerrett. . It seemed to theni' .that, it' was ratlipi* previous to start & provincial- scheme when tliore was a conference coming on on. July 28. Practically the out-' lined tor,that conference were what thiey desired to see put into operation. The Hairarapa donors had said they wanted a. JJoimmonschemc. Sir. Walter Buchanan suggested that tney would be wise in considering the' linesjipon which charitable aid was 'administered to-day. He took it that the administration had met with a considerable amount of success. Ho did not think jliere was. any haste in proceeding with a matured .scheme, and ho thought after discuspoii they should adjourn the matter for ..final consideration till tho conference on July 28. . ~ Mr. Skerrett pointed out after further ;discussioii.. that the constitution of a district ..federation would show that tho .Dominion federation on tho same linos could be run. A further reason forhaslo .was that soilio.donors yero holding back .pending the administration being.put on some sound footing. ' Sir John'Findlay said that'certain con-' •tnbutions had'been made to a National' Fund, and unless some sort of National !> set up those donors would have ,tho tight to take exception to any administration. Unless something 'was done soon there would bo a legal difficulty in that the wounded would bo arriving, and those.who had the funds would not have tho power to administer them. Ho'suggested pushing on with" the scheme outlined so as to get on later to tho Dominion scheme. Helping Poorer Districts. Mr. Wilson,; Mayor of New Plymouth, saul that it was only fair to those soldiers coming from the poorer districts'- that there; should be a pooling of funds. Unless this there was going to bo a very gravo injustice in the amounts distributed.- . The meeting ou'ght to agree upon as wide a federation as they could get, iu the hope that it would later bo absorbed in a national scheme. , Mr. Dickson (Hawern)-said tliht if they wanted:. national control they' would haston .it by adopting tho. scheme laid down, and before lung Otago, Canterbury, and other provinces would see tho advantages of it. '■ x Jl.r. Nash (Mayor of .Palmerston North) said ,they had not been able to have the views of their General Committee, therefore'they did not huvo tho authority to act ou any suggestions. He felt, however, that provincial control was a step iu the right way towards a National I'uml. Sir Walter, Buchanan 6aid that tho .JVaJjsggisa .was. cojially amajj.

gamation, but it sometinies resulted that "more hasto meant less speed." Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, -M.P. (Egmont) said that his district, favoured a national schcnte. but as there was some difficulty in regard to that, they favoured a first step of having a. largo district. Ho favoured carrying 'the resolutions put forward by Mr. Skerrclt. \ Mr. M'Leod (Wairarapa) said that it. was moro easy for a district that had not far advanced in a canvas to fall in with ,a suggestion, but in their district, where they had ihado' a canvas and raised almost .42 per head, they wire more or less tied, bccause they had agreed that the fund should be retained till a national or provincial fund was launched; Mr. W. Perry (Wairarapa) said that every man in the Wairarapa; would be agreeable to a scheme on the lines of the .National. Fund as suggested, but not on all-the details of the provincial scheme. His objoctio nto the present scheme was Mr. Hart (Hastings) said that appardistricts had not been canvased. 110 favoured a national scheme where the central executive couid call on one district, to assist another.' Mr.' Hart (Hastings) said tha apparently Wairarapa delegates -were doubtful whether other districts' were going to act after a scheme was adopted, but ho could assure theni Hastings andt Napier would move as soon as a scheino was decided on. ' . Sir John Findlay said that no district was compelled to adopt the proposals, as ono clause gave each, district' power to stand oii.t. General' .Principles Adopted, Finally the Mayor moved: "That this conference : approves the general principles of the . scheme suggested;" and this was unanimously carried. A further resolution was_ carried that the patriotic societies within the . tliTee provinces should send to the Mayor of Wellington their views on the proposals, and the following committee was set up to'consider the replies:—The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), Sir John Findlay and Messrs. C. P. Skerrett, D. M'Laren, H. G. Hill, and J. M'lntosh. ■. A resolution was also carried that representations should be made to the promoters of. the conference on July 28 to hold it over -ini the meantime.