WAR FUNDS

Evening Star, Issue 23372, 15 September 1939, Page 13

WAR FUNDS

CONTROL OF RAISING AND EXPENDING PROVISION AGAINST DUPLICATION [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 14. It was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry) in the Houso of Representatives to-night that provision for the control of the raising and expenditure of war funds would be in operation within a week, and if necessary, would be made retrospective. The mayors of a number of towns, Mr Parry said, had been consulted on tho subject, and at a special meeting of the National Centennial Council in Wellington this week a resolution was unanimously passed recommending national control over the purposes for which the war funds would be raised, the methods and the collecting bodies, and also the authorities which should expend tho funds. The Minister suggested that the experience of the last war showed the necessity for national control. New Zealand’s contribution per head to the Belgian Relief Fund was more than twice that of any other country in the world. The weakness in our generosity was mainly a degree of duplication and extravagance in the cost of collection, which must not be allowed to happen again. In 1919 there were no fewer than 983 separate war funds committees. The Minister suggested that there was not to-day the same urgent need for funds as existed at the beginning of the Great War.

“ Tho Government,” he concluded, “ sees no need for funds to be collected on a huge scale in advance of requirements. It feels that the spirit of those who, it is clear, are so anxious to give, will not be discouraged by the exercise of a little restraint, which may save much future embarrassment. Our people may rest assured that as and when their generosity is required it will bo requested through properly organised channels.”