PATRIOTIC FUND RAISING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUND RAISING

THE DUTY OF THE STATE. Sir,—May 1 refer briefly <° a P<""k in my remarks last evening which is not quite clear from your itpprt. Aiy piirposc was to insist that the funds Jiou- derived from eo-called "patriotic sources should lie a primary charge upon tho revenue of the country jn tl;e same way as pensions arc. Tho present metlud oi raising money for purposes or roller. to soldiers and dependants-nanaJv, the: method of appeal to "generosity, <>enevolence," "patriotism," etc., ?nd the method of deluding the public into the ■belief (that they are getting their money's worth by art unions, lotteries, etc.. is as false in principle as it is dis'.■iisunß in practice. Despite the most "lenovo'ient and well-meant administration of such funds—and the patriotic societies deserve great credit fur what they lmvo (Tone —such money is lLevitaßly tainted by the false atmosphere of "patriotism" and charity in vliich it nas been raised, and the inevitable consequence follows that many of the really (ieserviug cases are too sensitive to apply to such sources for relief. My contention is that t/iO provision of funds for such needs as patriotic organisations administer, is a State responsibility, and. apart from other strong considerations,, the .aiK principle underlying the present arrangements is ample justification for immediate and adequate mer.sures by the authorities to institute a system which will not bo intrinsically offensive to sufferers through the war.—l am, DOUGLAS SEYMOUR/