The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1942. ALL PURPOSES FUND.

Evening Star, Issue 24282, 25 August 1942, Page 2

The Evening Star TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1942. ALL PURPOSES FUND.

Good and very good lias boon the success of the Carnival Committee, representing the trades union movement and the Labour Party, which lias added £16,000, instead of the £IO,OOO aimed at, to the All Purposes Patriotic Fund. Thanks to this latest spurt Dunedin, in el tiding St. Kildu, appears as the fust city to realise—and exceed —its allotted quota, and all workers for the effort and all contributors arc to bo heartily congratulated. Two other zones of the Otago provincial district —Lakes and North Otago—have exceeded their quotas, and the total fixed for the piovince promises to be soon in hand. In referring to the success of the Carnival Committee’s efforts Air Roy Herbert made two suggestions. He was not enamoured, ho said, of tbo present method, of raising funds for patriotic purposes, and though tbo best would be done by those whom ho represented to assist it while it continued, they felt that the time had come when the Government should, for a period in each year, make a levy on the people lor such■ purposes according to their individual means, AVe do not this would, bo an improvement. Unless it was to bo based on a portentously involved, inquisitorial procedure, the plan of “ letting taxation do it,” when taxation already is being levied on all sections to an extreme extent, would bo most unjust to a great many individuals who, as Air Herbert acknowledged, have already given “ over-generously ” —if that were possible—to the funds. There are other individuals, irrespective of class, and there are also firms who have not given as much as they apparently could do. Some of these may have given “ ovor-generously ” in services; it is not a matter for hasty judgment, but if Air Herbert and fiis friends should indicate real defaulters to the Patriotic Council it ought not to be difficult to bring tactful pressure to bear on them that would conduce to a better discharge of their obligations. Afore important, however, is it that the spirit of voluntary giving, which is a precious thing iii any community, should ho encouraged and not discouraged. There is a moral value—there should bo a pride—in direct giving, which no other method of contributing to tho funds can possess.

Mr Herbert also referred to dissatisfaetiou among workers at their inadocpiatc.representation on the Patriotic Council’ Vis no cause why political rep/^fo;;Cation should be sought. No member was over appointed to tho Patriotic* Council as - representing the National Party. It is a sphere in which politics have no place. If employees are not to bo found in the personnel of the council sent there by tho lied Cross or other societies who have representatives upon, it, we presume that that would not bo any organisation’s fault. The Patriotic Council is, by its constitution, and in accordance with the regulations of tho Labour Government, a continuation of the Centennial organisation which was set up by Iho Labour City Council The organisation, as it covers tho whole province, is exceedingly complex, and it would he undesirable to make it more so. We think it would be well, however, in view of opinions 'expressed, if tho workers’ bodies, representing employees rather than polities, were asked to'appoint another representative to the council, and, after that, politics should be forgotten entirely. No one asks a giver to the funds what his polities may he. King Henry, invoking his'troops before Agincourt. took no account of their social or other gradings, which must have been many tinder tho feudal system. He preferred to address them ns a “ band of brothers.”

For lie to-day, that sheds his blood witli mo.

Shall ho my brother. Wo are engaged in a. harder light than Agincourt. “Brothers” should he the word.