“HANDS OFF"

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1003, 20 June 1930, Page 1

“HANDS OFF"

NO INTERFERENCE WITH PATRIOTIC FUNDS ASSOCIATION’S PROTEST “With reference to our own fund, let me say that never have our methods been successfully challenged. Indeed, both from the outside public and especially by responsible officers of the Returned Soldiers' Association, our efforts have received the highest commendation. “I fear no contradiction when I say that by us these funds are administered more sympathetically and more discreetly and with less cost than could be done by any other newly-con-stituted body. I think it is necessary for me to mention again that our ‘A’ Fund is earmarked for the sick and wounded and can be used for no other purpose. “We say with one voice, ‘Hands off our Patriotic Fund.’ Should any attempt be made to carry out the suggestion put forward by the commission, there will arise a storm of protest from one end of the province to the other.” So said Mr. V. J, Larner, vice-presi-dent of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, speaking at the annual meeting yesterday. “A report upon the position of physically and economically incapacitated soldiers has been issued by the commission recently appointed by the Government,” he said. “One cannot but commend in the highest terms the industry and thoroughness of the commissioners in gathering and collating the data and the clear and orderly method of presenting it. The outcome is a valuable contribution which should assist the Government in its efforts toward the betterment of our returned men. “I do not intend to discuss this report in detail. However, I do intend to deal with one point in the report —a point that touches our activities very closely, namely, the suggestion that patriotic funds should be merged and administered by a new body to be called ‘The Soldiers’ Civil ReEstablishment League.' “I desire to state without any reservation that we do not agree to this suggestion. These funds are controlled by a body of patriotic and responsible citizens—men who for the past 16 years have been building up their knowledge and experience of returned soldiers.”