PATRIOTIC SOCIETY FUNDS.

Shannon News, 26 February 1926, Page 2

PATRIOTIC SOCIETY FUNDS.

SUGGESTED CENTRALISATION. Within the past few years, at various intervals, the Government has attempted to pool the funds of Patriotic Societies, but their advances in this connection have been repeatedly repulsed by a large numlber of socie-' ties concerned. At 'the quarterly meeting of the Horowhenua Patriotic Society, held in Levin on Wednesday last, the following letter from the Department of Internal Affairs was read:— "That for some - time evidence gleaned from the annual reports of Societies, deputations to Ministers, and other sources, has pointed to the necessity of holding a conference of Patriotic Societies for the purpose of considering the future control and disbursement of war funds and to arrive at a common policy in connection therewith. The Hon. Minister communicated with the National War Funds' Council, which body I'eplied agreeing that sucli ■&■ conference would be productive of great benefit to Societies and returned soldiers generally. I am, therefore, directed to convene a conference of representatives- of Patriotic bodies and to invite your organisation to be represented 'thereat. In regard to smaller Societies 'which do not feel warranted in incurring the expense attended on their personal representation at the conference, it is. suggested that they communicate with, or arrange to* confer with the provincial' or larger neighbouring Society with a view to being represented by such Society's delegates. Such a conference is desirable for the following reasons: — . (1) That there is no uniformity in the policy of granting relief (e.g), a . ease whos'e needs, by the policy of a Society in one district would be granted assistance, would by the policy adhered to in another district not receive any help, viz., T.B. cases. (2) That certain Societies . will in, the not far distant future exhaust their funds and ex-soldiers and dependents,, the responsibility of such Societies, will look to some other body for assistance. It is held that position should, be reviewed in the light that the s6ldier is not the responsibility of the district wherein he was resident at the' time of enlistment, but that he is the responsibility of the Dominion as, a whole and thus when one district exhausts its funds —whether through its responsibility being greater on account of the larger number of men having enlisted from it and funds collected being consequently small compared with enlistments—other districts with ample funds should assist men whose responsibility Societies cannot fully function through lack of funds. (3) That Veterans' Homes ! will be needed not far hence and that consideration be given to the petition whether sums should not now be set aside for the purpose of establishing and endowing such Homes. (4) That by the amalgamation of Societies in continguous areas overhead expenditure .could be reduced. Experience has also shown that it would be a great advantage if ".Societies could agree to transfer their 'funds to one centre such as the National War Funds' Council, or failing that to, say, not more than four or six of the mam A centres in New Zealand, and arrange for the, relief of urgent cases througn Imprest" Accounts. A definite date for the conference will be decided upon (probably in i March, April or May). In the short discussion following the reading of the above letter it was patent that members of the local society were unanimous in their voting against the suggested pooling. Mr A. McLeavey did not think they should entertain the Idea. Their fund* were raised in the Horowlienuo County for the men in this distraci. .and people had. on this understanding,- given. If therefore, the funds were pooled with those of other societies, the speaker contended it would constitute a breach of faith. Messrs J..M. Richards and W. Kilsby agreed that the Society would receive no benefit from such au arrangement. Local interests would not, and could not,, be watched so carefully as now. . Mr P. W. Goldsmith said the time had not vet come wlien the pooling of funds would be beneficial or necessary. Certainly, in five years time, the position would, probalbly, • be different. /Mr Pochards remarked that the _ way in which capital was dwindling seemed to point to the Society's going on for a number of years yet. Mr Kilsby said -that had the Socisty's position been different, they might, have been able to look at it from a different point of view, but as money was available as cases came along, most of them being accommodated, he though the matter should rest where it did. The secretary, Mr F. P. Walkley, said the suggested arrangement did not apply to the Horowhenua Society so much as to the smaller societies, who might benefit. Mr McLeavey's motion flh'at the chairman (Mr P. W. Goldsmith) should act as a delegate to the proposed conference with power of appointing a substitute, found a seconder in Mr Kilsby and was carried.