PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 264, 4 August 1919, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

THE QUESTION OF CONTROL.

The control of patriotic funds was mentioned by the executive of ike Returned Soldiers' Association at an interview with members of the Government on Saturday. The oxecutive suggested that the Government should appoint a commission to make a thorough investigation of the control and distribution of patriotic funds. " The Hon. G. W. Russell said the suggestion had been considered by Cabinet, t which had determined that it did not ■nt present see any necessity for such a conimission. He could say emphatically that the Government had no desire to "collar" the patriotic funds. The duty of the War Funds Council, of which he was the head, was simply to see that the funds were administered in accordance '.with tho law, and for the purposes for which the money had been raised. During tho last few days the representatives ■of one,of the big patriotic societies had expressed- strong resentment at the fact t.haCtho. War' Funds Office was pursuing investigations regarding certain balancesheets. ' He could assure tho deputation ■that the office .would not abrogate its right •to secure tho fullest information regarding overv item in the balance-. sheets. But the War Funds Council, while if had authority to see that patriotic funds were not improperly expended, had no power to see that they were made available where needed. Tho time would come, said Mr. Eussell, Then tho whole question of the purposes for which these war funds, amounting to about ,£1,750,000, had been raised would have to be reconsidered. It was not so much a matter for a Royal Commission as for an expression <jf public opinion through Parliament. The money |iad been raised for specific objects. But there was no power to compel the patriotic societies to attend to these objects. The position the Wnr Funds Council took un was that it was the duty of tho patriotic societies to supnlement the allowances made by the Government and to assist soldiers and their dependants in cases that were not covered by Government payments.