WOUNDED SOLDIERS’ FUND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3985, 19 July 1915, Page 6

WOUNDED SOLDIERS’ FUND.

PROPOSED NATIONAL SCHEME. TO BE' CONSIDERED BY CITIZENS’ DEFENCE/ COMMITTEE THIS / Afternoon. A/meeting of tho Gisborne Citizens’ Defence Committee will bo held at Alio Borongii Council Chambers at 4 .o’clock this afternoon to consider the proposals formulated at the recent conference held at Wellington concerning a national fund for tho relief of wounded soldiers. The following ■communication on the subject has . been received' from tho conference:—

“From the views expressed by nearly all the delegates attending the conference, it was made apparent that any scheme involving the pooling, of the existing district funds would, not be acceptable to the committees which are operating with the object of providing relief for the men serving with the naval and military forces and their dependents, as it would tepd to eliminate that healthy rivalry and emulation which exists between the various districts and communities in raising moneys' for those objects, in addition to the probability of curtailing the effectiveness of the relief il claims had to bo referred to some central committee before being ultimately granted. Tnere was, however, an almost unanimous desire that some system, of co-operation should obtain whereby uniformity in the working, and administration. of the various district funds would be achieved, as such a system would present many advantages, at the same time avoiding disadvantages, • such as overlapping which at present exists.

As a step towards the accomplishment of this desire the conference passed the following resolution, clearly understanding that any basis of federation would not include the pooling of funds under the control of a central committee: “That .the conference with a. view of putting the various funds on a uniform basis agree that the different patriotic committees federate, and that the delegates ask their committees 1 to consider the advisability of establishing a national sclieme.”

A further resolution was adopted which was intended to indicate tin 1 general principles upon which it was considered the district or provincial funds should operate: “That this conference with a view to obtaining uniformity of action recommends to all committees in New Zealand controlling funds collected for the benefit pi our soldiers and sailors and their dependents the following general principles: (a) That the domicile of the application, shall determine the district fund upon whi.h rests the obligation to grant relief; (b) that the uniform scale of relief adopted by this conference to he the relief granted to dependents; and (e) to safeguard the funds and avoid overlapping, any applications or grants likelv to affect other district funds shall be at once referred to the committee interested by the committee receiving the application or making the grant as the ease may he.’’ “With a view to framing regulations that would be. acceptable to existing bodies operating these funds the conference set up a committee consisting of tho undersigned who were empowered to convene a furthei conference and submit proposed regulations and suggestions for its consideration. “It must be evident that a further conference would be extremely beneficial, as not only would it enable the constitution of the proposed system of co-operation to be fully discussed, lhit if thoroughly representative would practically attain all the merits fit a national fund without the disadvantages of centralisation. Such a conference could verv usefully discuss aful clearly define the objects ; . delineate the boundaries of the districts; consider the machinery necessary; and adopt any proposals or suggestions that might extend the ti.seI fulness of our operations, as, for example: (1) Obtaining the assistance | of organisers to stimulate the raising 1 of funds in districts where no proI vision has been made for the men and their dependents or where very little i in tuat direction has been accomplished; (2) the practicability of establishing employment bureaux for the benefit of men who have served with the Expeditionary Forces; (3) the care of orphan and fatherless children; (4) consideration of preference being given to applicants for .Government and municipal employment and for Crown land ballots in favor of. men who have served with the Expeditionary Forces; (5) marriage grants to widows who on remarrying would relinquish pension and patriotic advantages: (G) the question of Government subsidy in aid of the work of patriotic committees; (7 united action in securing from the Government adequate pensions and allowances on a national basis, thus leaving the voluntary help of the con unit! ee? of secondary importance ; (8) some system of mutual help to he arranged between all federated whereby heavy responsibilities in excess’ of available funds which might he incurred by some committee could be met liv assistance from others on an a greet! basis: (0) the control ot federated committees'; (10) the adoption of necessary rules and regulations for all federated committees and provision for alterations and amendments.

We have no doubt that your committee will recognise that some f.'rm of co-operation among the many funds which exist .throughout the- Dominion is desirable if the persons it is intended to relieve are to benefit to the very fullest extent from the moneys subscribed, and wo trust, that animated by this desire, your committee will appoint delegates who will att-mi tlm next conference so that it \'Gl he truly representative of every pan <-i the Dominion.”