WAR FUNDS COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2624, 20 November 1915, Page 2

WAR FUNDS COUNCIL

FIRST MEETING. The first meeting of tho War Funds Counoil was held yesterday. The only member not present was the Mayor of Auckland .(Mr. J. H. Gunson), -who fori warded an apology. Tho Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell)] presided. The Minister submitted draft regular tions defining the purposes, the powors, and the method of procedure of the War Funds Council. ; ; Mr. Russell advised that the council woiild' have custody of the sum of £2839 received by the Government for the erection of convalescent camps, and a sum' of £3813 now held by the Government as trustees for the New Zealand War Relief Association. These are the only moneys yet in the control of the Was Funds Council.

A discussion took place with regard to the inequality of the patriotic funda raised in different provincial districts. Special reference ,was made to tho case of AVestland, a district from which a large number of men have gone to the front, but a district -which _is not wealthy enough to find a proportionately largo patriotic fund. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr; John Roberts, C.M.G., that an appeal be made to the various patriotic societies throughout New Zealand to send to the War Funds Council such"sums as tlioy. felt disposed to give to enable the counoil to render assistance to any district in which the funds were not strong enough to provide for cases of distress amongst the returned soldiers and their dependents. Colonel Collins, auditor-general, who was present, gave an account of his scheme .for the audit of the accounts of patriotic' societies throughout the Dominion.

On tho motion of Mr. J. P. Luke, ar( enthusiastic vote of thanks was accorded to tho Minister for the manner in which ho had presented tho business to' the meeting..