WAR FUNDS
THE PROPOSED COMMISSION
VIEWS OF PATRIOTIC WORKERS
AND RETURNED SOLDIERS
Some £1,700,000, according to the belief of tho New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, remains unexponded from funds collected for war purposes. The association, in a recent policy statement, urged that the closest supervision should bo exercised over the expenditure of the money, and that a uniform policy for the final disposal of tho funds should l>o laid down. The executive demanded the immediate appointment of a Royal Commission to investigate tho Whole question of ivar funds. As to the personnel and order of reference of tho proposed commission, it made the following suggestions: The commission should consist of a. stipendiary magistrate (as chairman), one representative of tho N.Z.R.S.A.;" one representative of the War Funds Council, one representative,each from the Patriotic Societies'
Advisory Board and from tho Red Cross. The order of reference of tho commission should be the broadest possible, and its recommendations should immediately be laid before the Department. Tho investigation should include:—l. The raising of public funds for vrar purposes and their administration, with particular reference to tho purposes , for which they had been raised and economy in their administration. 2. The best uses to which remaining funds should be devoted, with particular reference to the liquidation of assets and lo the most efficient means of administration for any war work which may still be necessary. 3. The framing of recommendations in reference to providing in the case of a future war for the needs which in this oase war funds have been raised to
! meet. A Dominion reporter has obtained ; from representatives of the bodies cliiefi !y interested in tho question of a commission their views upon the advisability of appointing one. [ The War Relief Association. Mr. L. 0; IT. Tripo has made tho following statement:— I can only give you my own opinion as far as the Wellington War Relief Association is comerned, of which I have the honour to chairman. I would welcome any inquiry into tho administration of our funds because I feel, that the public do not realise the extent of tho work which has been carried on by the Wellington War Relief Association during the ln.st few venrs, and is still being carried on. We have a most capable staff, and at present I am sorry to say it is impossible for the staff to get through the work without working overtime. I know that the work that we have done has been appreciated, but the public do not realise the extent of tho work. At the same lime, seeing that wis are so busy, and I understand the experience of other centres is the. same as ourselves, I do not think that, as far as the war relief societies five concerned, any commission to-day would be of any practical "use because, "in my opinion, if! is impossible to-day to state what should Happen to the'funds in tho future. ' When nil the men are demobilised ar.d things become normal, the different societies who are dealing with war relief funds will know what moneys they have in hand, and then it. will p/'obably be necessary for tlie different societies to appoint delegates to meet to decide as to the manner in which the funds in band should bo expended. If it i 6 found lit a ?n tun? date that the claims on the funds in hand ars not largo, and the committeo is ablo/to make an estimate as to what will bo claimed for tho ordinary war relief in the future, Chen it might bo possible lo say that the balance of tho moneys in bond should be used for permanently supplementing pensions in special cases, or for the benefit o). the slic!;, wounded, or necessitous, or their dependants in some other manner which shall bo decided upon.
"I had called a meeting of the Advisory Board of. the war relief societies which was to have been held this week, when the question of the suggested commission would have been discussed. Unfortunately, owing to the difficulties of travelling just now it has been 'impossible to havo a meeting. - I have, however, .communicated with some of the members of the board, aud they seem to hold the same opinion as I do, that today no commission could decide what should happen to tho funds in tho future. As far ae I know, the war relief funds have 'been very carefully administered. If at any timo it is shown that the fnnils have been 'r are about to 'be improperly expended, under the War Funds Act the Attorney-General has, I think, full power to enable him to apply to tho Court to establish a scheme for administration of the funds. "If it is found in some district that a fund hns -been eolleoted and is no longer required, then the Attorney-General can also apply to the Court to have a scheme settled deiiniug how that fund is to be administered in tho future; or the trustees of tho fund, if they want to close down their activities, can apply to the Minister of Internal Affairs, and he can allow that fund to bo transferred to some other society which is in active oporatiou, and on tho trustees handing over the moneys tlio original fund is closed. As a matter of fact, I understand the Countess of Liverpool Committee in Wellington have ceased operations and have passed a resolution to the effect that r;ll moneys in hand are to be handed to the Wellington War Relief Society. On this being approved of by tho Minister it will be perfectly legal. "There is one point that must not be lost sight of in considering what is to happen in thu futuvo with regard to funds which have been subscribed for different purposes, and that is, the circumstances under which they were subscribed. The societies all have constitutions. and I believe I am right in saying that the constitutions were approve'd by the Minister of Internal Ail'airs, under t'ue War Funds Act, or the societies, were registered under tho Unclassified Societies Act. Moneys havo been subscribed and paid over to tho trustees of these different societies. It would be very dangerous to suggest, as long as the trusts are beinj; carried out, that any Government should interfere with tho administration of tho trusts. I will give you an instance: It is well known that when these funds were started I did all I could to have the funds nationalised, so that they should be administered in each district in tho same mauiier, but under the control of a governing body. Although we had several conferences here tve soon found out- that it was impossible for the different societies in the different districts to agree on this course. In ono district tho chairman of tho society operating in that district camo and saw me, and he told me that personally he agreed with me, but a very generous man in tho district had given a very large sum of money, and he made it a conditimi that tho fund was to bo administered in the couutry town where lie lived. It would not be right by Act of Parliament to interfere with that particular society, without the consent of tho members of that society.' j
"My, feeling is that in six or nino months time our men will all bo back, and matters will bo more normal. The different societies administering war funds in New Zealand should then liavo a conference, and we can see if it is not possiblo to come to some agreement as tn tlio administration of the funds in tho fijturo. Personally 1 hope that at a later dnto it will be possible for the different societies to spend more money 011 those men who are totally or partially disabled, and who aro not ablo to earn their living. The Government pensions linvo to bo standardised, but there are many special cases where the permanently disabled or partially disabled men and their dependants ought to gel; mure tha.ll is being paid to-day, and 1 hope that at a later dnt,\ when limeo are more normal. that the war relief societies will bo ablo to supplement certain pensions. \'ou will understand that 10-ilay in some cases wo are supplementing pensions, but all our work is of a temporary nature. Later on, -when times, as 1 havo said, beconio more normal, we will bo in a position to decide whether or not wo cannot permanently supplement tlio pensions of those ho have suffered so much, and cannot work, and their dependants and tho dependants of those who havo made the supreme sacrifice."
The Rod Cross Socicty. Mr. Young (chairman of the Wellington Centre of the Keel Cross Society) told 'J'he Dominion representative that in his opinion there was no need for a commission to deal with l!«o dic-y^s; l ! of Red Cross funds or tho future activities of the society. A return showing tho state of the funds was made to tho Department of Internal Affairs every quarter, and the balance-sheets of tho society were published both in pamphlet form and in the columns of the daily Press once every year. Moreover, if any persun required particular information regarding the funds, he or sho could always, by application to tho Red Rross authorities, obtain it.
Since the sick and wounded soldiers of the Dominion were now being brought to New Zealand and had to be looked Vter in the various Now Zealand hospitals, the activities of the society were mudli greater than they had been while the men were in hospital in different parts of England. The society was subscribing, many thousands of pounde per year to assist vocational training in Now Zealand. It was evident that the activities of the society would continue so long as there were anv men in the military hospitals in New Zealand, and it was impossible to say what funds wonld be required for the work. Tho ultimate activities of the society hnd not yet been determined, but the society, it should bo remembered, was a branch of the British Red Cross, and would therefore have its future planned by the latter body. The question would be the subject of a conference whicli wiis to Inks plaoe in England shortly. Mr. Young could not see how any recommendation from a Royal Commission would help the society, when its future was thus to bo determined by the authorities at Home. Finally, Mr. Young pointed out that tho money held by the society had been subscribed by tho public for the benefit of the sick and wounded soldiers, and was not to be used in relief of tho ordinary revenue of tho country, but wi\s to be applied 6olely to the provision of such comforts and assistance as were not provided by tho Government. This was another argument against the final sav in the disposal of the funds being left .with a commission, appointed by the Government. Y.M.C.A. Statement. The executive- of the National Council of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. yesttTday made the following' statement"Tho Y.M.C.A. courts the Meat inquiry into its war work. Tho association has done its best at every turn and opportunity, labouring otyen under difficulties and against great odds. A great deal of the work was done under shell fire conditions, when the need of the men was the sole object of the Y.M.C.A/s activities. There were times vrhen everything else had t.o bo put on one side, but the satisfaction expressed by Generals Russell, Richardson, and Henderson, together with that of officers of all ranks, I'.nd men, is evidonco that the work was well done. "Owing io the ramifications of the work- in England, France. Germany, Egypt, and Palestine, the task of finalising our figures in order te present a-balance-sheet complete to March 31,1919, lias necessarily been a lengthy one. "The Government Auditors have completed : heir audit,'■and the balance-sheet will shortly be" available for public information, and we are assured that our subscribers will -be satisfied that the trust thev have placed in the association has not Ixen misplaced." t
THE RETURNED SOLDIERS A FURTHER. STATEMENT. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association has issued the following statement in. further referenco to its demand for a oomniission of inquiry into certain war funds:— ' The Minister's Attitude, To a deputation 011 August 2 the Minister of War Funds announced that he would not accede to the request of the association. for a commission of inquiry.
The folloiving points in his remarus on this occasion call for comment; (a) He stated that certain information had now been demanded from the body to whocse account the association had drawn 'his attention. i This statement was satisfactory and significant. ■ (b) He stated that the body in question had sent a deputation to him protesting emphatically against the demimds of tlie Department. _ This statement was much less satisfactory and much more significant. (0) He stated that tho commission, if appointed, would have two years' work ahead of it. This statement was neither satisfactory nor significant. In referenco to tho third assertion tho association points out that it desired the 'Commission for two broad purposes:—
1. To frame recommendations as to tlio ultimate disposal of tha funds. 2. To investigato certain matters to which it had drawn the Ministers attention. . . . In the association's opinion the fultilment of both these objects would neither demand much time 1161; would it be necessary for tho commission to leave Now Zealand to secure tho necessary.evidence in reference to tho second point. In reference to the. test object, tho Minister's view as stated to tho deputation was that this should be done by Parliament in aooordanoe with the dosires of tho contributors. The. association could not concur in this view, the question of war funds being one \»luoh demanded more detailed consideration than Parliament could bo expected to give to it with the tremendous agenda paper in front of it. It was for this reason that the association had suggested nominees of the Bed Gross and tho Patriotio Societies Advisory Board on tlie commission, it had no questions to raise on the administration of the funds of tliftse bodies, but if anybody else had such queries to put forward this would naturally affect tho personnel of th© commission, lho refusal of Cabinet to sanction the commission had forced the hand of tho association. ana it was now obliged to announce to tho public the body to which it hud referred, and the specific .points to wliioh the attention of the Minister had been directed.
The Y.M.C.A. Specified.
The body in question was the Y.M.C.A., and the matters were indicated with tho following letter:— "Tho Minister of Internal Affairs, "Wellington, June 6, 1919. "Confidential. • "Dear Sir,—At a recent date the executive of ray association appointed a committee to oollect information on the general position in Reference to war funds. As a preliminary inquiry it obtained a cumber of balance-sheets of war organisations, and has devoted some time to the examination of them. "A report was formulated and submitted confidentially to our recent conference in Christchurch, aud as a result 1 have been instructed to bring before your notice a number of niattei-s in connection with the balnnco-shcets obtained by my executivo from tho ST.M.C.A. ' "The principal points are enumerated in the accompanying statement, and conies of the balance-sheets in question are attached and marked. Tho conference was of opinion that if the deductions from the balance-sheets arc correct a most disquieting stato of affairs is revealed. and considered that tho matter was ail tho more urgent in view of the continued disbursing by tho I.M.C.A. of its war funds. "My executive trusts that you will authorise an investigation of tho situation immediately, and would be glad to know of the result. In justice to the YMC -\- tiie executive naturally wishes first'to* assure itself of the accuracy of its deductions, aud in the meanwhile considers that this matter should <>e treated as confidential, and upon verification contemplates appropriate publio action. , ~.. "I should, therefore, uo glad if you would kindly indicate at your earliest convenicnci; the results of your inquiries, and nny ;ielion proposed by your Departmen] I may add that, on the prima facie results of its investigation, and subject, to their verification, my executive is strongly of opinion that a Royal Commission is desirable to investigate matters relating to the disbursement «f war runds. to supervise the liquidation of assets in connection, with them, and to frame recommendations as to their ultimate disposal.—l beg to remain, Sir, fcithfiil'v yours, "('Signed' nOTjGT.AS SEYMOUR, "General Secretary.
The Soldiers' Association's Comment. The Y.21.C.A. has been entrusted 'by tha public ivith a sum of somo Xl(K),tKiO to ue expended on i\'ew Zealand. soldiers in accordance with tlie objects ior winch it had been raised, 'i'lio Y.M.C.A. iwiis responsible to tho people of Now Zealand for its stewardship, and for the economical administration of this fund. Directly, ;t was responsible to the War i'und Department, which iu this-case was either vriable or unwilling to comment upon the points raised. The association was not making charges, but it; was emphatically ol opinion that the inn liters refei'i'ed to demanded in the public interest an authoritative investigation. Tho failure ot tho War Funds tlJiico to disposo of tho points raised argued at leasL faulty administration somewhere, and consequently th« investigation should be conducted by an outside commission. The association regretted that the proposed commission hnd not mot with general support from bodies in charge of war funds. It would have preferred that tho questions raised should have _ been submitted directly to tho commission without prior publication, but the latter course was now unavoidable. The pu'blie could hardly fail to be astonished at the position indioated, or to recogniso that the association had established a atrong prima facie case for investigation. On the other hand, this ooun;e had the disadvantage of prejudicing the Y.M.C.A. in tho eyes of the public until tlio_ charges had been investigated, and placing convenient stones in tho hands of those who objected to it 011 principle. Most returned Koldion; fully recognised the fine work done by the Y.M.C.A., and if the Y.M.C.A. could explain satisfactorily the questions raised nobody would be better pleased than this association. Tho association w<as not unaware th,it (Strong evidence in justification of some of its administration might be submitted by the Y.M.C.A. Only a competent commission could form 11 relia'ble opinion 011 the merits of tho case, and the association was confident that its proposal was as directly in the best interests of the Y.M.C.A. a.? in those of the country.
Even if funds were strictly administered in accordance with the purpose for which they had been raised, there was still immense scope for faulty administration and overlapping. In reference to tho recent Featherston disclosures, for example, it should be remembered that the Y.M.C.A. had a salaried officer in the camp, and that the Bed Cross and Salvation Army were also working. It is understood, too, that three organisations with buildings and staffs—maintained from war funds—are <titl at work in Eotorua. What the association wishes to know is whether in such' cases the most economical methods are being pursued. '
It remained to be added that the association in taking this course had 110 kind of designs on any of the war funds. The suggested personnel of the commission alono should make this clear, since th'o association had only one representative, as against three others who represented custodians of funds.
[The detailed report of the sub-com-mittee of the "Returned Soldiers' Association referred to in the above statement has been held over by us for submission to the Y.M.C.A. The report refere in detail to specific items in the Y.M.C.A. balance-sheet?, and also io omissions of items therefrom which appear to call for explanation. Before pubthose items and the criticism of the U.S.A. Committee ihereon, we deem it. only fair to afford the Y.M.C.A. an opportunity of making any ijfplanation or reply thereto it may consider desirable, so that criticism and niswer may appear together. |
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 271, 12 August 1919, Page 8
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3,357WAR FUNDS Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 271, 12 August 1919, Page 8
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