STILL AT ODDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2816, 6 July 1916, Page 7

STILL AT ODDS

WAR RELIEF AND PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES £10,000 FOR, RELIEF WORK There is still a little feoling simmering between the executives of the War Relici As ; oc.iatiou and tlio Wellington Patriotic Socioty. Somo little timo age, tlio latter body proposed that at) it had played tho' biggest part in . raising the funds that tlie War Relief- Association was engaged in administering, it should have more representation tlian at present, Both, executives placed the position before tho Minister of Internal Affairs, with a view to gaining his sympathy in douig tho right thing, but a settlement of the mattor was never brought about, though it was generally understood that for the future tlio War Relief Association was to be tho distributihg bo<ly and tho Patriotio Socioty tlio. collecting body. It now appears that both bodies aro both collecting and distributing funds moro or less.. . . At yesterday's meeting ol tho War Relief Association, tho cnairinan referred to tho deferred couforenco between the two bodies, and quoted cases where the Patriotic Society had helped applicants from .time to time, and at times injudiciously, as was proved in tho caso of one man who obtained each society,'and tho society in tho man's own town wrote advising, tho local association not to advanco auy money to the man. Mr. J. Lewis (secretary ot tho Patriotic Society, who is a mcmbor of the association) stated that thorO had beon cases whore assistance had been .given men, sometimes on the recommendation of the chairman. (Mr. T. M. Wilford) and at others, when a man had been turned down ;by the association. Mr. Lewis made-it quite clear, that such'money w not taken out of funds especially raised for. sick and iyounded soldiers. Letter from the Minister. ' Oii the matter of the relations between tho two bodies, tho Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) wrote:— ' "I havo to acknowledge receipt of your letter .of July 5,. referring to the relations of your association with tho Wellington Patriotic Society. Permit me to extend to you my sincere thanks, for tho full reply you have sent mo with regard to the matters''referred to in my letter of. April 11. It is unnecessary that I should traverse all the points set out in your .lengthy' communication. Suffice it'-to say that.l,propose to adhere to tho decision previously gi.von by me—that there should be only one society in. this city .administering war relief, under the authority of incorporation. I do not think,. however, that I havo any power to interfere with any society which, having collected money, proceeds to expend it in accordance with the War Funds Act. I iiopo that notwithstanding tho difficulties mentioned in your letter, some arrangement may ;bo mado by which tliero there will be a uniomof forces tis between your association and the Patriotic Society. I think it is desirable, in the interests of .the soldiers that whatever funds are available should bo collected. I am equally certain that it is desirable that there should bo only ono organisation expending tho money in this towli; . I liav6 not received any further communication from tlio. Wellington Patriotio Socioty, and consequently I presume, .that they have, abandoned; the proposal for.'incorporation." A Pertinent Question.

' Mr. J. Lewis asked if the War Relief Association were a collecting body as well its a distributing one? Mr. L. 0. H, Tripp said that they were not likely to refuse contributions; besides, their rules gavo them full powers to accopt contributions. Mr. Lowis'said lie had understood that the Minister had laid it down that the War Belief Association was to bo the distributing body and the Patriotic Socic-tv the collecting, body. ' Ihe chairman (Mr. W. Ferguson) stated that tile position was very plain. They woro not going to arrange carnivals awl other big functions, which the Patriotic Society knew so well how to manage, and 111 which direction they had done so much «>od work. •' • • .. , ~ Mr. D. M'Xareu said that if both bodies collected there would be just as much overlapping as was the case if both bodies distributed. Mr. Ferguson said that was not so, as (hoy would both bo collecting to put it into tho one pocket. Mr. A. M'lntosh said that there could bo no doubt in anyone's mind that thero should bo onlv one body to distribute money, in order to prevent overlapping. II; would be foolish to think otherwise. A Big Haul. It was reported at the meeting that, the-trustees ot ! tho Wellington Patriotic Association had'handed over the sum of itIO.OOO to the War Kelief Association as. part payment', of tho money raised by tho Maraolai land raffle.