PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 282, 27 August 1942, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Wellington Provincial Council

BALANCE IN ACCOUNTS

In reporting to tiie monthly meeting of the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council yesterday, tiie honorary secretary, Mr. Ward, M.L.C., stated that some 52,000-woollen comforts had been forwarded to two large North Island, camps and 17,000 others had been handed over to the Army for distribution elsewhere, but, instead of supplying one place with what was required, these goods had been distributed -in bits and pieces, in consequence of which complaints had been arriving. Mr. Ward also said that tiie matter of Christmas leave for the men on duty would largely depend on circumstances which could not. be determined at present. Men in camp, he explained, were given free passes to travel over the railways every four months. Mr. Blackley said he thought there was not much to complain of about that. Mr. Ward announced that all the Christmas parcels for men serving overseas had to be in hand by October 10. So far parcels were coming in very well and the rate would bo accelerated. Taxing Patriotic Gifts. The matter of taxing patriotic money gifts was brought up at the instance cf Mr. Bain (Wanganui), who was unable to be present. In discussion it was stated that in one ease of a gift of £lOOO the patriotic fund had benefited by barely £3OO, the rest having been paid in taxation. Another statement made was that in order to make a gift of £lOOO clear to the patriotic fund, a person or firm would have to give £4200. It was proposed that either a letter be forwarded to the National Patriotic Fund Board or that a deputation should wait on the Minister asking for a total exemption from taxation of money handed over for patriotic purposes. Mr Blacklev said it might not be as easy as all that. Total exemption might induce people and business firms to give and so reduce their excess profits taxation. . . - Mr. Mansion! suggested a conference between the patriotic bodies concerned and the Government to see whether some sound proposal could be made to meet the' situation. , Eventually the matter was made a remit to the conference of Provincial 1 atriotic Councils to be held in November next. Statement of Accounts. In the statement of accounts as at July 31 presented by the treasurer, Mr. B O. Peterson, tiie balances shown were as follows London Distress .uiid.iß f 10/11; welfare account. £102,33<>/9/.> , funds in hand. £23,658/3/1, which includes £lO.OOO on fixed deposit and £3OBO in National Savings and Bomber Bonds. The imprests in the hands of zones amounted to £2067. In the ease of he welfare account the greater part of lie monev is represented by £48,000 in G< v r ernment stock. £44,000 in local body debentures. £6OOO in Government war loan, and £200'.) in the G.P.O. Savings bank.