STRICT CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20060, 5 October 1939, Page 11

STRICT CONTROL

COMMUNITY CHESTS NATIONAL—PROVINCIAL CENTENNIAL COUNCILS GOVERNING BODIES (Tor rress Association.) WELLINGTON, this: day. For the purpose of controlling war fund activities and avoiding the overlapping of effort, the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations have been gazetted and were explained by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, to tile House of Representatives. Showing the necessity for this control. the Minister mentioned ihat there were nearly COO separate war fund:; and just under 1000 collecting agencies during the last war, resulting in not .only extravagant competition and expense- in collecting funds, but actual misappropriation and wasteful expenditure. "It is intended during the present war to establish a national patriotic fund and 11 provincial funds,” continued the Minister, “thus creating 12 community chests and enabling the expenditure to be regulated. Power to approve of purposes is being vested in the Minister, thus making it possible to withhold approval of any purpose until the need arises. The provincial fund districts are those constituted under the New Zealand Centennial Act, with the same subdivisions. and the provincial centennial council will be the patriotic council controlling the various local committees. Ail collections will be; made for (he respective provincial funds and the council will control provincial expenditure. It will be empowered to employ for this purpose specially qualified organisations such as the Returned Soldiers’ Association, Y.M.C.A.. Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. A national fund will be established and controlled by a special incorporated board with the GovernorGeneral as chairman.” Expenditure Overseas It was hoped, said the Minister, that money would be contributed both by the people generally and provincial councils for purposes which could best be served by tire national body. In particular, all moneys for expenditure overseas must be paid into the i national fund. The general administration of the regulations would be the function of the Minister, in whom was vested the sole power to declare approved purposes. The general definition “patriotic purposes” closely follows the definition of “war fund” in the 1915 Act. The Minister will be assisted by a national advisory council, which he will appoint, this body having the general function of advising all patriotic collecting organisations and making such investigations as are deemed necessary. The Minister assured the House that this complete system of control would not destroy local autonomy. “It may be objected,” he continued, “that it will have the disadvantage of prohibiting reputable bodies from raising funds for purposes for which they are particularly fitted. The answer is they should be proud to throw the whole of their weight into a true community effort, in the knowledge that their help will be sought .in the expenditure of the community chest to the. extent which they prove themselves; worthy of that trust.’’ Exemptions Planned Various exemptions from control are being gazetted immediately. Mr. Parry continued, covering spiritual work and ministrations of the churches amongst the forces, also local and private functions in honour of soldiers. Centennial funds no longer required for that purpose may be diverted to approved patriotic purposes. Regarding the money al- j ready raised and goods donated for the , present war, the regulations make pro- , vision J’cr inch' being held in trust by the collecting agencies for disposal to such approved patriotic purposes as the appropriate provincial councils direct. Mr. Parry concluded by saying that '.'no regulations would safeguard the interests of the cnly uvo classes of people who, in the final analysis, really mattered in all patriotic wartime" effort, namely, those who gave and those for whom they gave, The substitution of community for sectional control must, the Government felt sure, be the best such safeguard.