PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 75, 28 July 1915, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

A DOMINION ASSOCIATION. Per Press Association. Wellington. July 28. The Dominion conference in connection with the collection, control, and ■distribution of fu»ds N for war purposes was opened here to-day, the Mayor ot Wellington (Mr J. P. r,uke), presiding; , , ' , , ■ Mr Skerrett. K.C., explained his schema and emphasised the absolute necessitv of compulsory levies upon the opulent branches in the interests of the poorer branches. The cardinal point to be kept in view was that no soldier, sailor, or dependent should want while there were funds in the *!>,miinion to'help him. there must be : a uniformity of the scale of relief. The Mayor of Wellington proposed that an Association, to be called "The [Dominion War Belief Association."

be formed. Mr Williams. Christchurch, moved as an amendment that local centres be first formed, and that the question of the federation or amalgamation be thou considered. Mr Skerrett described the amendment as destructive of the scheme for the present and possibly for all time. Mr Parr, M.P.. Auckland, complimented Mr Skerrett. upon the broadminded and statesmanlike manner in which his scheme had been framed. He could see no objection to the proposed federation proceeding. The amendment was lost, and the Mayor of Wellington's motion was carried.

The Conference then proceeded to discuss the details of the scheme.