Whose Responsibility?

Southland Times, Issue 24889, 31 October 1942, Page 4

Whose Responsibility?

It would be a tragic surrender of democratic privilege, however, if the responsibility were handed over in entirety to the State. The Patriotic Fund is being drawn upon for some services that should properly be supplied by the Government. As Mr P. L. Hodge pointed out at the meeting on Thursday, it is not right that prisoners of war should have to depend on public generosity for requirements that are provided as a matter of course to soldiers on active service. There are other activities which, with an equal fitness, could be charged to the War Expenses Account. It seems odd, for instance, that recreation huts in New Zealand Army camps should not be regarded as normal features of camp life, provided at the expense of the State. The separation of these essential needs from benefits and facilities, which have a more direct claim upon private generosity, is a task that deserves the attention of the annual conference of the provincial councils. It seems possible that the National Patriotic Fund Board has been given too many functions. A review of the whole position might lead to a more exact definition of patriotic activities. When that has been obtained it should surely be possible to keep some part of these activities on a voluntary basis. Giving is good for the soul. It can be argued, perhaps, that if the people give as a nation, and not as a collection of individuals, they are obtaining the desired result through an operation of the general will. Military service is compulsory. Why, therefore, should the attendant obligations be left to private generosity? The view is logical; but a completely logical civilization would be mechanistic and soulless. So few avenues are left open for voluntary effort that the people should jealously guard what remain of them. There is more to be thought of than the mechanical provision of comforts. Public morale needs the reinforcement that comes from sacrifices made consciously and willingly. The satisfaction of the spirit attained by the cheerful giver is an essential element in the morale of a people accepting the strains of war. It should be emphasized, of course, that the taxation proposal is still only a proposal. But it has been so widely supported that the question can scarcely escape official attention, especially if it is given a prominent place on the agenda for the » November conference. It is to be hoped, therefore, that those who favour the change of method will aim more at a division of function —leaving the State to provide essential things, but leaving also a sufficient work for men and women who believe that some gifts should come directly from the people themselves. The Government is the central taxing authority and there is no taxation without control. If extra charges are placed upon the War Expenses Account it may be necessary to make a small increase in the wage tax. But there should still be opportunities for the generous minority.