THE FRENCH FUND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 231, 18 June 1918, Page 6

THE FRENCH FUND

■ ——« REFUSAL OP THE PERMIT MINISTER STATES HIS REASONS Judging by the exprorsions of astonishment and indignation which havo already been voiced at Ministerial discouragement of tho proposal lo niako a collection on July 13 and 15 (Sunday, July 1-1, is the French National Feto Day) for the French Ked Crosß and other needy French funds, tiie answer of the Minister of Internal Affaire (the Hon. G. W. ltussell) to tho Mayor's request for tho necessary permission to collect will bo read with a good deal of interest. Tho letter is as follows:— I have the honour to acknowledge tho receipt of your letter of Juno 13, applying lor a permit to collect funds to bo sent to the French Government for distribution— one-half to tlio French Bed Cross and the other half to be applied to such special urgent patriotic needs as tho French Government may determine.

a"■} n , Teply ' 1 to point out to ? ou that, belore granting approval to the establishment of another fund for the purposes stated, it is desirable that fuller information should bo received cither from you or from the Consul-General for France for the Dominion. ' "As you are aware,-the Bed Cross is an international organisation, and is spending enormous sums upon tho Western front for the beneiit of all Allied combatants. The returns before nie show that, in addition to its general responsibilities, the Red Cross executive has made very large contributions directly to French patriotic funds. During the two years ended October 20, 1916 (the last date for which I have figures available) there were expended in Prance and Belgium, in cash and stores. ,£17'1.151 from tho General Filnd, including stores to the value of for the Croix liougo institutions, <£500 to France's Day, and .£2OOO to tho French Wounded Emergency Fund. In addition to these, very large sums-were also sent from special funds placed at the disposal of the executive. As contributions are regilarly going forward from New Zealand in support of the British Ked Cross, whose operations, as I havo shown, cover France as well as all other Allied combatants, it will be seen that the Dominion is already participating in patriotic work for the direct benefit of our brave Allies of France.

"There are. however, other and even more direct efforts to assist our Frenoh Allies which have been made by the Government and tho neople of New Zealand. 1 "

1. On April 18, 1917. the Government cabled =£4000 for establishment expenses mid .£3OOO maintenance for hospital at Btambrieres for tbe benefit of French repatries. Tho Government also undertook to pay three further half-yearly smug of dCSpOO towards mainteitance of this institution, being a total of J61G,000 m all. To this institution 23 cases of clothing were forwarded by Lady Liverpool Committees in October last. "2. Early ill 1917, with the approval of the French Consul-General, a fund was' established for the direct assistance of the French Red Cross. The sum of ■£1G,871 was raised, of which amount the Gerclo Litteraire Francais contributed .£3B IDs. Gd., as the result of a concert. 3. On February, 4, 1918, the Government approved of a fend for the benefit of the National Association of French War Orphans. Free postal privileges were granted iby my Department, in order that a Dominion appeal might be made. This is now in progress, and sums amounting to have already been forwarded through the High Commissioner to headquarters. The committee is still very active, and donations aro steadily coming forward. i "Whilst the Government most fully appreciates the heroic sacrifices which h*ivo been roads and aro tain? mado by our French Allies, I regret that the necessity for this further appeal' which" is now proposed has not been d'sclosed in your communication: The Government is of opinion that the proper course is for New Zealand to concentrate its energies for the assistance of the ■British Red Cross Society, leaving to the executive of that body the responsibility ot distributing its funds amongst the French people and armies, as well as those of Britain ano her other Mies. 'J may remind you that in October next the fourth special 'Our Day' appeal will be made throughout: the Dominion. It, however, there aro other urgent needs outside of those with which I have dealt, and a request is made that a fund shall bo established for them, which is supported by the Consul-General of France in the Dominion, the Government will be only too glad to give further consideration to the matter," The Mayor was asked yesterday afternoon whether he had anything to say respecting tho letter, but said that he could not very well say anything for publication until the letter had been submitted to and discussed by the committee. In the meantime the consent to collect had been withheld, pending certain information from himself or the ice-Consul for France. Given that inlormation there was no assurance con. reyed that the permit to collect would be issued by the Minister. < Money Coming In. The spontaneity of the effort will prouably suffer by the Ministerial attitude, but in the meantime tho appeal, which bas already been made in anticipation )f no difficulties being placed in the iray of a permit to collect, is having it« :ft'ect. The following, donations to "France's Day," in addition to those already published, Jiave been received iby the U.ayor' * Is <1 Mr. John Hutclicson 5 0 0 Vtrs. John Hutcheson 5 0 0 'S.P." 5 0 0 25 0 0 fames Pearce (Hutt) 2 2 0 Yesterday's total Ml 2 0