THE OPOTIKI NEWS Monday, December 11, 1939. PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 269, 11 December 1939, Page 2

THE OPOTIKI NEWS Monday, December 11, 1939. PATRIOTIC FUNDS

The question of- the handling and disposal ol : patriotic funds has become a .burning on® throughout, tho Jl;o----ininion. Jt is clearly realised that some form of control in regard! to collection is absolutely necessary but measures adopted by the Government have gone' far beyond anything contemplated by the people as a whole, while the introduction of side issues, such as farewells to .soldiers, has caused general indignation. The creation of central funds during the last war proved a sad event, particularly for country districts. Opotiki in particular responded magnificently to the appeal for assistance to the soldiers, a snm of nearly £20,000 being raised. Unfortunately very little of this sum was returned to Opotiki following the Armistice and' since then there has been a quiet determination that in the event of another appeal being made, residents would seo that a good proportion. of. the; money raised would bo held in the district, where the handling of the funds would bo free from the red tape, restrictions of which Opotiki experienced more than its share. It is recognised that those “on the spot’’ are in a far better position to judge, the needs of Returned Men tlum outsiders. The resentment felt against the new regulations has been demonstrated from one end of the country- to the other and it is obvious that: something will have to ho done if there is to be that same spirit of generosity as was manifested following the outbreak, of the last great conflict. According to the 'll.on. W. Perry, M.L.0., Dominion President of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, the response to the appeals made to the people of New Zalarnl to subscribe to the National Patriotic Fund which is being raised for tho purpose of providing comforts and amenities for members of our armed forces and the mercantile marine, has so far been disappointing in the extreme.

A report of a meeting of the Pahiatua Clouuty Council shows that the mnv regulations have been a damper on the generosity of the people, hollowing the reading of a circular from the Department of Internal Affairs uii the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations, (T. Bryant remarked: “This is not going to be an encouragement to the collection of funds for war purposes in the district’’. The chairman, C'r. A. NY. Bisset, said it looked as if the regulations might kill a lot of patriotic giving. Anything that was given was usually given on the spur of the moment.

It is certain that should the regulations he amended to allow of a substantial proportion of patriotic 1 1 mels being retained in various districts, there will he a spontaneous response to appeals. .Needless restrictions ‘will only result in the soldiers having to suffer the result of badly thought out legislation. The people of New Zealand stifl possess the will to give, and to, give freely, hut they will not stand for legislation which takes away, that freedom to give. The cpiestion is not a party one. the opposition to the regulations being general throughout the country from people of all shades of political opinion. The Vigilance Association, which was formed some time ago in Opotiki, would have been an ideal body to have undertaken the control od any campaign for funds;' handling of the money received and the care of the interests of our young men, immediately on enlisting, during their period of war service and their care alter the eonelusion of hostilities. The Vigilance Committee will no doubt co-operate, in every way possible with the Patriotic Committee appointed by the Government. It is to bo Imped that the \ igilanee Association will continue to function as a separate body, as it was formed in a manner that would enable the Association to look after the whole of the interests of our volunteers. .Splendid work has already het'ii done on behalf of the men ol the Special Force, and the News is in a position! to state that the Vigilance Association ha.s already more than justified its existence.