WAR FUNDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1924, Page 2

WAR FUNDS.

C.iFKT TO AI’IHtOYK OF USD. WFI.I.I.N'GTOX. 'September 10. An intot e-ting statement respecting the probable future disposal of war fund- vv." : made in the l egislative (il t"-•!ay hy Ihe Hon. Sir Francis \ [*,..11. * li., ii:','.cl the id reading of tli*.* War Fund'- Amendment Did. Sir Francis said that a present difficulty was that we have a large number of war film’s existent without any definite ohieU. The .National AYar p’unds Council aliead.v had had invested it in a number of the smaller Hinds, and it had poner to to. eive from its various tru-tees v,lieu they were satisfied to part with their trusts. It was with a view to overcoming a difficulty

res; (.ting piopefty that it was proposed to incorporate the Council. •Section (i of the Dill was important, making provision for the submission to a Court of schemes for the disposition -•*»■ of money held on trust for war funds, for example the Belgian Relief Fuad. The purport of the Bill was: to enable these trusts to he an] lied, not at the will of minor trusts, or of the National Council, hut according to the approval of tin* Supreme Cmitl. The last clause of the Dill disposed of a difficulty with which many members of the Council were familiar. Immense sums of money were (elicited in New Zealand and transmitted to London fur charitable purposes. These purposes no longer existed. 'I he money was held in London hv the High Commissioner. and there was no purpose i<> which it could he applied hy him. Sir Francis said he tin ted that a large portion of the funds would he passed on to the Red Cross authorities. The Hon. A. S. Alai* "dm asked if it was intended that these funds should he devoted to the relief of soldiers and their 'dependants. Frequently lie had had to go to Councils |Yr help for such people, ami had liven met with the difiiI tiltv that the uliit ct's had been unable

tii trace a < otinexioii between the returned soldier's present illness and his war service. It was distressing that mm: should he refused relief on that account. He had. hoped that Hinds might Le used for relief of such distress. irrespective of whether the trouble was due to war service. The lion. Dr. Collins agreed largely with Mr M:il"olm. There were cases of soldiers whose i'll ness V•■nttld not b" shown to be due to til? war. and it was verv difficult to deal with them, it" had been delighted to hear what Sir Francis Beil iiad said respecting the Red Cif - fair’s. Tli" Il in. K. Newman Imped the High Cnmmis-ioiicr would he ((insulted betiii'e money now in l*.ng!nnd was transmitted litre. He was satgfied tiio’.e was room for the useful disposition at . Home of some of it. Replying to the point raised hy the Ibm. G. S. Afalculm. Sir Francis Bell said that under the Bill the War Funds Council would have the lower to deal with men wlmsc* illness m uht not he dire tlv traceable to the war. 'Hi,* second reading <d tie Bill was agreed to.