WAR FUNDS

Dominion, 14 August 1919, Page 6

WAR FUNDS

THE PROPOSED COMMISSION

SOLDIERS REPLY TO THE MINISTER

In pursuanco of its pressure for a commission on war funds with full powers of investigation the New Zealand tteturned Soldiers' Association has issued the following comment upon the report of the Y.M.C.A. deputation to the Minister of Internal Allaire (Hon. O. W. Huecelli, which appeared in yesterday's issue of The Dominion:—

"The Press -report of. the deputation was a remarkable document, and should be read in tho light of (a) the deduction in the association's statement of Tuesday last that 'thu failure of the War Funds Office to dispose of the points raised argued faulty administration somewhere .(i.e.. either in tho War Funds Department or the Y.M.C.A.); and (b) the statement of tffe Minister to a deputation of returned soldiers last week that a certain body had sent a deputation vigorously protesting against being pressed to supply certain returns.

''"The effect of the public statement by the association was now plain. It became clear that the Department and the Y.M.C.A. should in the interests of both be reconciled, and the report issued to the Press represented «■ laborious effort on the part of someone to give the public the impression that nfter a temporary estrangement (due to the pressure for the information- by the association) the two bodies now intended 'to live happy ever after.' The Y.M.C.A., which had formerly protested vigorously against the demands of the Department, was now not only supplying tiie balance-sheets required, but in addition:—'A further explanation arising out of the balance-sheet and statements would be available to the secretary of tho War Funds Office- when asked for.' Nor was the Minister for his part to be outdone in generosity to his late adversary. 'Possibly,' he said, 'the Departmental officers had raised questions of policy.' 'Possibly! , Burely the Minister would know with some degree of certainty what his Departmental officers were doing, especially on such an important matter as the policy of the Department.

"Passing thus lightly over the points of difference, the Minister launched into a eulogy of the Y.M.C.A. which would have been oven more appropriate had it been relevant. He referred in terms of the 'highest appreciation' to the 'untold benefits' of the work of the Y.JI.C.A. (which the association had specifically recognised) and extolled 'the honesty, integrity, and patriotism' of its management (which neither the Returned Soldiers' Association nor anybody else, so far as it was aware, had called in question). Hβ disclaimed any intention of the Government to take part in tin inquiry on the assumption (on the part of somebody unspecified, but indicated by insinuation) "that there had been, improper dealings Willi tlie funds,' which tne llovernment hud not been invited to do, and he some.wnat grudgingly confessed. "There were doubtless matters under consideration by the War i'unds Office which required explanation' (Uie explanation whicii the Returned Soldiers' association bad lor two months been endeavouring to secure from a Department whicii uiould long ago have hud the necessary information^. "The -Minister went on 10 suggest that 'a body of gentlemen who bait devoted large sums of money, had given their time, and had done what tho 1.11.C.i. lniuuigeiueni Had none,' liad thereby secured for themselves a measure of immunity i'roni inquiry, and intimated that 'the Uoverninenc' (irrespective, apparently, of the truth of the issues involved), 'was not going to take ya'it in liny movement that would liavo the effect of dishonouring ilia magnificent work, etc. etc' Tne same Machiavellian (lootnne woukl guarantee tl:<j opposition of Air. Kussell .j.o any inquiry imo tno work of the nar i'timis iiepariuieut, lor example, l'f he considered that such inquiry was likely to dimiinsii the public esteem in whicn tlie Department might be held.

"l'he> only gap in the record of this singularly lehcicoua discussioa was that <luo to tlie absence of a 1 quid pro quo iu the form of it eulogy ot the Minister by tho Y.M.U.A., but in view of the apparent Ministerial origin of the Press communique, this was perhaps accouuic4 tor by Mr. .Russell's modesiy. "The Rr.S.A. was reserving lor separate treatment the innuendo which Air. ltustell threw out as to the motives of the association in pressing for a commission. "It was easier to demonstrate the irref levance of the arguments adduced IS the Minister than to provide against their elVect on tho average reader, who could not spare- the tinio to weign the real issues. This effect was to cloud the real question of war hind administration in a maudlin atmosphere of eulogy and rhetoric. "It was satisfactory to note that the Y.M.C.A., in 'courting the fullest inquiry' were not lending tneir support to'tfio obscurantist tactics of iho Minister. The iiS.A: hoped to arrange the y.M.C.A. a joint-UeputaOon vo urgo the' necessity for a commission as the ouly body competent to undertake a full inquiry. In connection, however, with the reference of the Y.M.C.A. to its •work under shell-fire, etc., the U.S.A. thought, it desirable to stress the fact itijat the justification for administrative deficiencies on tho ground of war conditions was a matter ior the commission to determine."