PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3177, 30 August 1917, Page 5

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

NO THOUGHT OP STATE CONTROL.

The administration of patriotio funds was referred to in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when Air. W H. Field asked tho Minister of Internal Affairs whether there was any proposal before the Government just now for the nationalisation of theso funds, or whether there was any proposal lor putting them under national control. The Hon. G. W. Russell said there was no proposal -before tho Government for the taking over, or in any way interfering with the control of patriotio societies who had charge of their own funds, and thero was not a possibility of eucli a matter being considered. However, there was established under the war Funds Act, 1915, a National War Funds Council, to which any society might confide its funds. Practically the whole of Westland and the Buller district had joined and paid over their funds to the National Council. The local executive met from month to month and drew whatever funds were required for tho benefit of the sick and mounded and the dependants of soldiers. 'J he I«bt time the War Funds Council had met, representatives from theso districts had died upon it and expressed their appreciation of the council, and the . Major ol Wcstport, who represented tho Bullei Society stated that he was surprised that no more societies had taken advantage of the Act.