PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1968, 24 April 1919, Page 2

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

A HUGE BALANCE. , • WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH IT? . An important statement on the subject of patriotic funds has been made by the Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon. G. \V. Hussein, based upon the decision recently arrived at vetoing the proposal that the sum of £3,000 should be transferred from the Lady Liverpool Fund at Christchurch to the proposed Returned Soldiers’ Club in that city.

The whole matter, slates the Minister, had been referred to Ihe So-licitor-General, and he had forwarded an opinion that the statement made by the Minister with reference to the question, and published in the Wellington papers a week or two ago, correctly staled (he legal position. It would be remembered that during last session a very important amendment of the War Funds Act was passed, providing that the Supreme Court may, on (he information of (lie AttorneyGeneral. establish schemes for the administration of war funds. In accordance with the advice of the Solicitor-General, instructions have now been given to the War Funds Office to prepare a complete schedule of all war funds consisting of over £IO,OOO, showing: (L) 'flic objects for which these funds were established; (2) the income of each fund for the last financial year; ((2) file amounts spent during Hie past year on the objects for which the fund was established; and (4) the credit at the dose of the linaheial vear.

“There is no desire on the part of the Government,” said the Minister, “in any way to interfere with, the control or management of any fund, provided that the objects of that fund are being given effect to by (lie trustees. Vfhere, however, as in the case of the Lady Liverpool Fund, the object for which the fund itself was established has ceased to exist, (he responsibility is certainly laid upon the Government in connection with the matter. The registered object of the fund referred to was (o provide comforts for soldiers whilst engaged on active service.. There are other funds having considerable credits, where, in exactly the same way, (he objects for which (hey were established no longer exist. Sooner or later the investment, control, and final disposition of those funds must come under consideration. Our men are returning in large numbers, and now is the time when, in my opinion, the pursestrings of the war relief and patriot ie associations should lie relaxed in order that the men who have borne the harden and heat of over four years' service shall receive whatever assistance can he given to them by means of the money which was so cheerfully and patriotically subscribed for their benefit by tliiji people of New Zealand. “In the years (o come many of these brave men will feel and show the effects of; their past services. Their wives and children will then need (lie assistance that can be provided from the patriotic fmuls. If, is not the responsibility to the men to-day only that must be considered, but tin; responsibility to their wives and children in (lie future; for who would wish that the wife or child of a man who fought at Gallipoli, Messines, or Passehondaele should be a supplicant for charitable aid in days to come. I stress the future responsibility of the people of the country, and would point out that (he £1,700,000 now held should he regarded by (he people of Now Zealand as a sacred heritage for the benefit of the soldiers and of their dependents.”