WAR FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 63, 9 December 1918, Page 6

WAR FUNDS

AN AMENDMENT BILL INCREASED STATE SUPERVISION. The War Funds Amendment Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives on Saturday, makes further provision for the administration ami control of patriotic funds raised wholly or in part by private subscription. It extends the term "war fund" to include all investments, securities, and other property belonging to or under the administration oi the trustees of a war fund. Power is given to the Supreme Court, on the information of the AttorneyGeneral, to establish schemes of administration of war funds should it be satisfied on any of the following points:— (a)' That the fund has not been used' for the purpose for which it was established. (b) That any moneys or property belonging to the fund have teen, or are about to be, improperly expended or invested. (c) That the fund has not been lawfully, honestly, and competently administered. ' (d) That the purposes of the fund are no longer capable of' being adequately fulfilled in the public interest or that the fund is no longer required for those purposes. (e) That the fund is larger than is reasonably required for the purpose for which it was established. At any. time after an information has been laid before the Court by the At-torney-General, and pending the final determination of the matter, the Court may make interlocutory orders prohibiting the expenditure or disposition of the fund. The.Bill gives the Minister power to transfer small funds—that is, funds not exceeding iSOO-to the National War Funds Council, providing he is satisfied that the fund in question has not been properly administered. The right of appeal is given to the trustees of any small fund dealt with in this manner. It is provided that the trustees of any war fund desiring to send money from the fund out of New Zealand will in future have to secure the consent of the Minister. For the purpose of securing co-opera-lion between the administration of Hie war funds and the work of the Repatriation Board of four Ministers, all trustees of funds are to lie required to send in a monthly report of the administration of any fund under their control. The first report of this kind is- to be in respect of the present month, and is required to 'bo sent to the Director of Repatriation before January 15.