USE OF GREAT WAR ORGANIZATION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 183, 30 April 1940, Page 5

USE OF GREAT WAR ORGANIZATION

New Patriotic Fund FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 01 EX-SOLDIERS A suggestion that the organization already in existence for the financial assistance of men who served in the forces during the Great War should be used if similar assistance is required by soldiers of the present day has been made by the executive committee of the War Relief Association of Wellington. It was reported to a meeting of the committee yesterday that the National Patriotic Fund Board had written stating that the question of assistance to men who would be returning from overseas would shortly be considered by the board and asking the association’s views on the proposal that all provinces take up a uniform attitude in giving help, ttud .requesting also that the association express any views it thought it should in its experience. The association had replied that it considered it would be in the best interests of those for whom the money was being subscribed for a uniform policy to be adopted in the administration of tlie funds, provided such policy • wotdd enable each case to be considered on its merits. In the consideration of claims that policy had been strictly adhered to by the societies operating throughout the Dominion and the committee believed that it had enabled the writer to comply fully with the wishes of the subscribers to tlie fund and to confer the maximum benefit on those applying for assistance. The executive was of opinion that the patriotic associations that had been operating throughout the Dominion for the last 25 years could immediately take over the duties of provincial officers of their respective provinces, and. with reorganization, their executive committees could arrange for representatives of present-day patriotic funds to assist on their committees in the disbursement of the funds. The ex- ! poriencc of the existing committees would lie invaluable and the use of tlie existing organizations would save money. Tlie commit tee offered to cooperate with tlie National Patriotic Fund Board in any way it desired. At the meeting yesterday it was indicated that it was not intended that tlie National Patriotic Fund Board should interfere witli tlie administration of funds subscribed for men of the Great Wait