PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2740, 7 April 1916, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

ADMINISTRATION SCHEMES

FIRST MEETING OP ADVISORY

BOARD

The first mooting of the Advisory Board of tho Federated Patriotic Societies of Now Zealand/was held yesterday. The first business was tho election of chairman, and on the motion of -Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp, the Hon. J. T. Paul was selected. Mr. Tripp was appointed vicechairman.

Mr. Paul, thanking tho members for their confidence in him, said he would do his best to make tho Advisory Board a successful and useful body. lie pointed out that the Board had no constitution, but only an outline of one, and it would be for tho Board to draw up its constitution within the limits of that outline. There was no order paper before the meeting. Mr. J. Hislop, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, said that,' on behalf, of tlie Department, he wished to offer the services of an officer to act as secretary during the sitting of the Board. Mr. luniilbiirgh, secretary of the WaT Funds' Council, was in attendance, and he would act in this capacity. The.offer was accepted witjhi thanks. -

Following were the members present:— Auckland: Messrs. G. Elliot and V. Larnor; Hawke's Bay: Mr. E. Heathcote Williams; Taranaki: Mr. J. 15. Wilson; Wellington:. Messrs. L. 0. H. Tripp (Wellington) and T, Hope Gibbons (Wanganui); Nelson and Marlborough: Jlr. \V. W. Snodgrass; Westland: Mr; Joseph Grimmond; Canterbury: Mr. J. J. Dougall; Otago: the Hon. J. T. Paul; Southland: Mr. John Gilkison. The representative appointed for Marlborough was Mr. JE. J. Harvey, but Jie telegraphed that he would be unable to attend, and that his society had appointed Mr. Snodgrass to attend. Responsibility for Soldiers. The chairman said that it seemed to him that the first point naturally arising was the principle upon which the responsibility of patriotic societies should be determined. Two conferences had considered the question, and, had agreed that this should be decided b'y the domicile of the soldier prior to enlistment. The onlyobjection was raised by Mr. Elliot, on behalf of Auckland. He considered that the discovery of the domicile v;ith certainty might involve great difficulties, which would not occur if the socioties' responsibility were determined by the place of enlistment. In the course of general discussion it was pointed olit that the conference had decided for domicile, and that, furthermore, the enlistment basis would bo very unfair. A roll would be prepared, and on this the societies could j act. The Board agreed to defer consideration of the question until tho members bad seen the roll. To Prevent Exploitation. A general discussion took place on the second of the objects for which the Board is set up: "To adopt means io prevent tho improper exploitation of the funds." The Auckland delegatesvgtrongly advised that the societies in the four military districts.of the Dominion should unite, as the branch societies had joined in the Auckland district. Mr. Dougail, for Canterbury, said that it was quite impossible to get the sooieties in Canterbury military district—in Canterbury, Mart borough, Nelson and Westland, they would never be persuaded to federate, Geographically. l the places vcreso widelj separated that union was impossible. Members then discussed federation of societies in provincial districts, and it appear, ed that a movement towards this object was being made in most districts. In the end Mr. Dougall moved: "That

it be a recommendation to the provincial districts that they form somo internal organisation to enable them to put then views collectively before the Advisory Board, and that they act through soma central executive in,their own districts." The motion was carried.

. It was also decided that it bo a recommendation to each provincial district to consider the advisability of distinctly dofining the scope of the operation of each i patriotic society within its district, and the area within which such society should operate. Administration Problems. The board next discussed the third of its objects: "To take into consideration all matters affecting the administration of funds raised for the benefit of soldiers and dependents." A point of some importance was raised by Mr. Suodgrass. He said that thera were other important collecting and •distributing' organisations, the Red Cross, foi instance. Was the board to concern itself about them, or only with those societies distributing funds raised for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers? It appeared that in somo districts there was a measure of interdependence between the Red Cross and the patriotic societies, that in others the patriotic societies and the Red Cross worked under rules agreed upon, the Red Cross looking after soldiers in hospital, and the society looking after them when they are out of hospital, and that in others the patriotic societies and the Ret! Cross, and all other collecting bodies, simply ignored one another. No finality was reached on the question. Another point raised by Mr. Dougall was as to whether societies who were trustees of fte funds could legally lend money to soldiers to enable them to ■ get on the land or ,set up in business. Without doubt the societies had power to give men money, but he was of> opinion that the societies could not under the Trustee Act lend men money. It was generally agreed that a society could often do very much more good by lending than by giving. In the end it was arranged that Mr. Tripp state a question for the Crown Law Office as to whether the societies had power to lend money to soldiers, with or without interest, upon security which would not be a Valid security within the meaning of the Trustee Act. , Standards of Relief. There was a discussion also on the question of whether it was wise to adopt some standard upon which relief should be administered. Should the societies attempt to dofino the income that certain people, applicants for relief, ought to receive? Members suggested that it might he that the rich societies wouM be inclined to allow men a more generous rate of relief than the poor societies would bo inclined to allow. The majority of members however, said that experience had shown that no such standards could bo fixed. No two cases were exactly similar. Somo women could mana»e well with little or no assistance, while other women in the same position, perhaps however, not in -such good health, wonld bo "always in a muddle." The majority of members thought it wonld bo wiser to go on considering every caso upon its merits. Apparently it was the custom of the principal societies to make allowances on some scale, more or less elastic and it was decided to ask the societies to supply, the board with in-' formation as to tho basis upon n:hieh relief was given in particular cases, or classes of cases. Only Advisory Powurs. The chairman suggested that as some societies were a little uneasy as to the powers of the board,' and how they would bo exercised, it would be well for the board to pass a resolution declaring that the board was only advisory. On his motion tho following resolution was carried: "That this board declares that' its functions are purely advisory, and that societies be notified to that effect."

Comforts for Sick and Wounded. A letter was received from the Minister of Internal Affairs covering an appeal from the Minister of Defence for funds for comforts for sick and wounded soldiers in hospitals abroad. Tho Minister of Defence askctl for a monthly subscription from the societies of J3OOO, to bo provided on a quota system such as was sot up last year for the Belgian Fund. Mr. Allen pleaded his request as a matter of urgency, as the moneys in hand were nearly exhausted. At the conferonco of the societies the following resolution bearing upon this question was carried:— "That it ho a recommendation to tho patriotic committees throughout the Dominion that the amount required for tho provision of extra comforts for 'New Zealand soldiers in England and in Egypt— namely, £3060 monthly—bo subscribed reSuiarly by the patriotic eocieties on the

quota system on the same basis as the Belgian Fund." Notwithstanding this resolution, however, members of tlie board seemed to view the Minister's demand with, some suspicion. The Auckland delegates were not satisfied that the Government would make as good use of the money as could he made t>y the societies following their own judgment on such' advice as they received. Tlie Christchurch delegate, Mr. Dougall, also said that the Government did not do its duty by tlie men. The Christchurch and Auckland delegates were of opinion that thoir societies would not agree to send moneys through the Government, but would prefer to remit money through channels in which, to uso Sir. Lanier's words, they had more confidence. Mr. Dougall said many societies had doubt as to whether tlie patriotic societies contributions were to be in addition to the Government's moneys for comforts, or in substitution of the Government's grants. ' Mr. Elliot said that if the societies were satisfied that the moneys asked for would really.be used to tho best advantage, and tnat they would not bo used to do work which the Government should do, there would bo no objection from any single society. Quite obviously some of the societies haci no confidence in the Government, and were even afraid of the Government. Wellington, Otago, Southland, Wangamii, and Hawke's Bay. supported the Minister's .appeal, and tho Taranaki, Nelson, and Westland delegates took little or no part iu the discussion. It was fully explain- ; cd that subscriptions provided by voluntary effort would not bo disbursed through, tho ordinary, Government channels, but. by such organisations' as the War Contingent Association in England. Filially, it was resolved: "That in view of the assurance given by the Minister of Defence that the money provided by patriotic societies for soldiers serving abroad will be used for comforts outside tlie ordinary necessaries, the Advisory Board eudorscs the resolution passed by the conference, and recommends the societies to act accordingly." Vexatious Returns. . The secretary brought before tie board m confidence a list of proposed regulations setting forth the requirements <>i the Government from the societies in the way of returns and reports. Tho mere mention of this subject evoked a storm of indignation. .It appeared .that the demands of the Government involved a great deal of utterly useless work—work which cost the societies a lot of money. In many of their offices extra labour had to be engaged to do the- work. Presumably, extra labour would hare to be engaged at the Wellington end to classify and tabulate these returns, in the pretence of making use of them. This would mean that two classes of geople would be engaged in doing useless work at. a time when every person's work and effort should be husbanded carefully. Mr. Dougnll was very emphatic in stating- bis society's objection to Government intercpnference, concluding his remarks on the point as follows:—"I don't know any more effective W'ay of stopping subscriptions to the patriotic funds than for the Government to interfere." Jt was decided to ask the Minister to submit the regulations to the societies for consideration befo/e they were finally made effective by the Government. General Business. Mr. Hope Gibbons moved that tlie board meet on the first Thursday of every month. Mr. Elliot moved as an amendment that the board meet every three months. Mr. Heathcote Williams gave notice of a further amendment that it be left fettle chairman and the vice-chairman to call the board together wlien, in 'fheir opinion, there was business of sufficient importance to justify the summoning of the board. ■ '•..'•

After a long discussion the motion and amendment were withdrawn, and to Mr. Williams's proposal a further amendment was moved:—"That the next meeting of the board be held on Thursday,. May i." This amendment was carried.

At Mr. Williams's suggestion the board decided to ask the Government to allow the full rate of interest on all patriotic funds deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank. ; The board approved the scheme for establishing a soldiers' club at Ectorua Sanatorium, and recommended the societies to contribute from their funds towards the cost of setting- up the clubestimated to amount in all to ,-£SOO.

It was resolved that societies be "asked to refer to the Advisory Board all appeals for considerable sums of money from the patriotic funds towards objects to which all societies should contribute.

The board decided, after discussion, to urge the Minister to set up immediately an Appeal Board, to consider the.cases of, men who considered they had been harshly treated by the Medical Board or the Pensions Board. 'Several eases of alleged harsh treatment in the way of .premature discharges were mentioned.