DISTRIBUTION OF PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2067, 13 December 1919, Page 3

DISTRIBUTION OF PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

A LOCAL SOLDIER'S VIEWS

Mr C. L. Podmore, a local returned soldier, and one of the Main Body, who saw service throughout the war, called upon us yesterday morning in reference to the meeting of Returned Soldiers held on Thursday night. Mr Podmore says he would like to make himself clear, and not being accustomed to public speaking, was afraid he was not understood at the meeting. First, he says, the meeting was advertised for returned soldiers, whereas it should have been for local returned soldiers, as the matter to be dealt with only concerned local men. He objects to an “outside" returned soldier presiding at the meeting and ■taking part in the proceedings, although he did not make the protest at the time. With regard to the disposal of the local funds held by the Patriotic Society, he says the local public subscribed the money for local men, and what he desires to make clear is that the fund should be disposed of at once, instead of allowing the money to be consolidated with all other funds, and its distribution hung up with administrative red tape in the future. His proposal is that the money should be dispensed now on a system that will be fair and equitable. So far as he is concerned it will not affect him, as dispilc his lengthy service he is a fit man. He strongly opposes tving up Ihe funds or having the money merged into a national fund, and says the public who subscribed the money should be given a say in this matter.