STATEMENT OF WAR FUNDS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 235, 18 September 1939, Page 4

STATEMENT OF WAR FUNDS

DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE .The lion. W. JC. Parry,.. Minister of Internal Affairs., made the- following statement in the house of Representatives on Thursday, 14th September :- The question of war funds has lieen .given very close attention by.the Government during the past week. Mayors and other, local body chairmen have been subjected to considerable pressure in their own districts by Societies and individual citizens anxious to do something tot help the Dominion and those who, if the occasion calls for it, will join the British forces in the field. Actually, too, several bodies have, made a beginning with tlie collection of funds. The Government lias been asked to make some pronouncement of national polio?. Taking advantage of the special meeting of the National Centennial Council in Wellington two days ago. I discussed this ,matter at great length with the Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin. New Plymouth, Gisborne, Napier, Blenheim, Nelson, Hokitika, add Invercargill, who are chairmen of ten of the eleven Provincial Centennial Councils. The Mayor of Christchurch, Mr. R. M. Macfarlane, M.P., was unable to be present,but favoured! mo with his views on

both questions of the Centennial Celebrations and the War Funds, and lias

since expressed aggfeement with the resolutions unanimously-passed by.the meeting in, the following,-terms :

1. That there must be some form of national control over

(a.) The purposes for which war funds may bo raised; (b.) Tlie methods by which such funds may be raised f (e.) The bodies by such funds may be raised; t ■ (d.) The bodies by such funds shall be expended. 2. That the Government, at as early a. date, as possible, make a, public pronoun cejnent on the whole question of patriotic activities and war funds, giving some indication of the present and prospective needs of the Dominion in both directions, and bring down such leglisation or emergency regulations as may be necessary toi control the position in the light of the preceding resolution. The- necessity for national control of the matters mentioned in the first of these resolutions will be only too apparent to all who were interested in the raising of war fundts during the War of 1914-1918, and who have since been concerned with their distribution. No other country in the world lias a. greater record of spontaneous generosity than New Zealand during these fateful days. A part from the huge sums collected for expenditure in the Dominion for our own men of the Expeditionary Force and their dependants, gifts in money and in kind were made to many international and Empire

funds. It is. worth remembering, for instance, that New Zealand’s contribution per head of population (eleven shillings and sevenpence) to the Belgina Relief' Fund, was more than twice as much as -that of any other country in the world—our nearest rival being Australia, with five shillings per head of population. The weakness in our generosity, however,- was mainly, in some cases, a degree of duplication and extravagance in the cost of collection. That must not be allowed to happen again. Further ,since the War 'Funds Act, 1915, was not passed until more than a year after the outbreak of War, it was not possible to exercise that degree of control over patriotic effort which was not only desirable but absolutely necessary to obviate misdirected overlapping of both effort and objectives. When it is remembered that ill .1919 there were no fewer than 983 separate War Funds •Committees in existence, it is not necessary for me to press this point.

The Government is giving serious consideration to ways and means of ensuring that both those who will give so freely of their effort, and those who subscribe, may rest assured that their generosity will bear lull fruit..

The Government has also been asked to give some indication of the present and prospective needls of: the Dominion in the direction of patriotic activities and collection of War Funds. It is obvious, to my mind, that for the moment at least there is a clear distinction between this war and the last. Owing to the circumstances prevailing in 1914,- the need for war funds was immediately a live issue. It is worth"emphasising that the whole basis of; war funds is the man on active service, hi danger of bis life, and all that means to himself and bis dependants. At the present time, the immediate circumstances are different, and there is not the same urgent need for the raising of funds as existed at the beginning of the Great War. W e now have time for the preparation of effective arrangements the requirements of a wliole-liearted and united drive. It- is desired that the Dominion’s effort should in no. way be divided, and that, pending the making of national arrangements, individual action should for the moment be withheld.

The Government sees no need for funds being collected on a. huge, scale in advance of requirements. It feels that the spirit of those who, it is clear, are so anxious to give, will not.be discouraged .by the exercise of that little restraint which may save much future embarrassment. Our people may rest assured that- as and when their generosity is required, it will be requested through properly organised channels.

It- is most essential, tlie Government feels, that bodies already in the field soliciting donations sliouldl call a halt. the next week at latest, all necessary machinery provisions for control of raising and expenditure of war funds will lie in operation . If necessary, those provisions will be made retrospective in their operation.'