WAR FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2679, 27 January 1916, Page 6

WAR FUNDS

THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE

FIXEB*FEMUMY4r

■ ' The following'oiiraulai" has ' been ad'drossod to patriotic societies .administering war fuuds by Mr. J. .Hislop, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs: — "Reoently. the Minister invited the | opinion of. patriotic societies as .-to • whe- : tier they considered another conference ■was desirable,; chiefly: for,' the, purpose of taking ' steps, to ; preventoverlapping and to provido for lnter-oommuhication between to prevent' exploitation. of patriotic funds., '-

"Tho replies,received!. have clearly indicated that a 'very : large -majority of tho patriotic-societies-of. New Zealand aro in favour of such a conference being held. lem therefore directed 'by the /Hon. G. W. Russell; Minister. of Inter'BaH Affairs' (Minister, appointed- 1 to 'administer the War Funds Act, '1915),,-to convene;: a confereiiccj' of'patriotic societies ,-Mlministeriiig war funds, ,to be' [held at' Wellington at 10 a.m. on Thursday, i February 17, 1916, and to invito your society to be represented' thereat'. Tho date for" the conference has been_ ex-' tended a fortnight beyond that originally contemplated in order 'to give greater .time for the societies to make ■'their.arrangements. ' ..: "I am further" directed by the Minister to suggest that patriotio societies should hold special meetings as earlj 'as possible to consider this matter, ana forward suggestions- for the consider- ■ tion of the' conference;. These suggestions will be rhus facilitating •discussion when the conference as- . sembles.' , " .

"As the result of many communications that have reached him, -the Minister suggests the following list of subjects for consideration:—l. Defining the 'area, within which each society shall operate. - 2. Organisation and membership :»f lie societies. 3. Objects of the societies. 4. Uniform, scale of benefits, subject to necessary limitations. 5. .Treatiiont of the discharged soldier, as reigards—(«) Health; (b) board; (c) monetary assistance for clothing, railway, (coach, and steamer fare 6, etc.; (d) emVployment; (e) such other matters as may i lie considered desirable; (f)' assistance ■to widbws and children, parents, andde'pendents. 6. Establishment of.homes, hostels, clubs, etc., fo;- discharged soldiers. 7. . . Visitation, of. men in fios'pitals, and supervision of those who are .out-patients." The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) explained yesterday that in order to facilitate the' work of the conference and sd that it, might ■ho in possession of t-Tie fullest information, all patriotic societies that administered war funds, in accordance with the War Funds Act, 1915; were being 'lequested! to supply certaii information -down to January 31. - This information would: relate to the moneys received by ' them,' the sums that 'had been expended on sick and wounded soldiers, upon soldiers not classed, as sick and ■wounded, and iipon hospitals, clubs, etc., and in other directions for the benefit of the soldiers. The societies had also been asked for information as to tho investment of tho funds, the .interest being earned, and, the amount of money that was lying uninvested at ihe date mentioned.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION will not send a delegate. f ' By Telegraph.—Press Association, t ' ' Auckland, January 26. : At a meeting of tie Executive of tho 'Auckland Patnotio Association it was decided that the association would not ' be represented at next week's conference oalled by the Minister of Internal i : Affairs, ' and that 'the association was in accord - with: the , suggestion that a conference shouldheld of all societies in the Dominion.,-. Until next week's obnferericeiis'heldj'liowever, and the result, known, it was not considered . advisable" to' take any action.-