MONEY FOR COMFORTS
BIG BALANCES IN HAND
CHARGE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
MINISTER REPLIES
Some months ago an appeal was niado by the Defence Minister to tho patriotic societies of New Zealand for regular subscriptions to tho amount of £3000 per month for comforts for sick and woundod New Zealand soldiers in hospitals abroad. The societies .responded to the appeal, and the monoy is paid by them to the Internal Affairs Department, and is remitted Home on tho instructions of the Minister of Defence. In England somo of the money is administered' by the New .Zealand War Contingent Association,' and some by the High Commissioner. In Christchurch, at a meeting of the Patriotic Society, it was stated that the Minister liad not been remitting this money regularly—had, in fact, wrongfully withheld it—and that in the meantime funds were needed at Home. This statement or similar statements have been made elsewhere in New Zealand.
"It is totally incorrect," said the Defence Minister when the statement was brought under his notice last night. "Moneys have been sent Home regularly, and both the High Commissioner and the War Contingent Association had good balances in hand a few days ago. I have always been careful to see that they, havo plenty of money in hand! On September 30 the balance in tho High Commissioner's Fund, wholly for comforts for sick and wounded, was .£9336, and at the same time the War Contingent Association had in hand £3158. in addition, the Association has a' special account for Red Cross remittances, and the balance to credit of that account was at that date £2142. Where is there shortage of money? I get a monthly report as to how tho balances stand— this I have arranged for the High Commissioner to send—and the figures I have- given you are from his last monthly report. "The societies have decided not to subscribe the October quota,' and I havo told them thero is no need for the monoy. There is sufficient in hand. I don't think there will bo any necessity for them to pay tho November quota, but I am not prepared to say so until I have seen the High Commissioner's statement of accounts, which I expect to get very soon. It is true that the hospitals are full now, but those extra comforts are small things, and the balances in hand should suffice to provide all that aro needed. It should he remembered that the Government provides all necessaries. These gift monoy6 are for extra comforts only, such as tobacco, cigarettes, motor-car rides, and so on.
-/"The Government has never refused any demand for money for the hospitals at Home. Not long ago I was asked for funds for a social hall at Sling. I replied: 'Erection of hall for 500 men at Sling is approved, and if you and General Richardson consider further accommodation is required, this- also is approved..' Subsequently they tele-, graphed that the hall was to be at Hornchurch, and not at Sling. The Government also found £4000 for a hostel for men on leave from the front.
"I am told that there are complaints reaching here about the discipline in New Zealand hospitals. I am perfectly certain thero is no vexatious discipline in tho hospitals in England under New Zealand control. I am also satisfied, however, that it is necessary to havo a certain amount of discipline in hospitals—this in the intorests of the men whom we want to get back to health. 1 am quite certain that General Richardson, with his staff, is perfectly well able to deal with all these matters satisfactorily, and ■ to look after the best, interests of New Zc-alander's. I think it is a very great pity that anybody should got tho idea that in hospital discipline ought not to" exist."
By Telefjranh—Press Association. Mast6rton, October 16. Interviewed by a Wairarapa "Ago" reporter to-day ..regarding a statomont in the Christchurch "Press" that none of the money subscribed bj; patriotic societies for special comforts for sick'and wounded soldiers in England had gone forward, the Hon. J. Allen said: "Tho report is quite untrue. The fund is under my control. By arrangement with the previous Minister of Internal Affairs, funds have been sent from timo to timo to the High Commissioner, who has a considerable balance in hand. The War Association had somo thousands of pounds at • its disposal when I heard last from tho High Commissioner. 'Hie High Commissioner supplies money to the association whenover it is required, aud he advises me when ho requires more. In addition to .what has been sent xo the High Commissioner, tho' sum of £800 was recently forwarded to Egypt. Tho statement that, the money subscribed by patriotic societies has not been sent is quito. incorrect. Prom tho very outbreak of tho war we havo been sending nionoy to the High Commissioner and where a special fund was exhausted wo asked patriotic, societies to contribute.
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2904, 17 October 1916, Page 6
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823MONEY FOR COMFORTS Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2904, 17 October 1916, Page 6
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