ADMINISTRATION OF WAR FUNDS

Taihape Daily Times, 6 August 1919, Page 5

ADMINISTRATION OF WAR FUNDS

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ATTITUDE.

‘ROYAL COMMISSION DEMANDED.

The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has issued the following‘policy statement on the subject of war funds:—Some months ago the executive of the "Association began to inVestigate the present situation in reference to war funds and their ultimate disposal. From the information available it appeared that a sum in the region of £1,700,000 remained unexpended from funds collected for war purposes. This large amount was "held by a considerable number of bodies brought into existence, in many cases, by the War. It has been raised for an immense variety of purposes having some war object in common and in many cases Was still being expended on work more or less directly arising out of the war_ In the View of the executive there was a strong probability that the bodies who had originally raised these funds might in some cases be tempted to devote them ‘to purposes which might not always be the most useful. Consequently it was considered necesary, firstly, that the closest supervision should be exercised by the War Funds Department over post-war expenditure; and, secondly, that a uniform policy for the final disposal of the funds should be laid down. The latter Was all the more neccsary in view of the large -sum in question and the need for economical administration in the immediate future.

The association collected and examined a number of balance-sheets from bodies administering war funds. In the case of some of the balance-cheets submitted it directed the attention of the Minister for War Funds to certain items, and also to notably defective statements which it could not regard without concern and upon which it desired the Minister’s comment. The executive has been unable up to the ‘present to get the questionsraiseti by fit"elucida’ted, and .has~unanimously decided ‘to demand "the immediate" .-ap'poin't‘lnent of a‘”Roy'a'l Commission to investigate tthe'~'Whole' question of ‘war ‘funds, ‘and has notified the Minister accordingly. The executive has decidied re "recommend that" the Commission '——to consist of fiVe'membel's‘-—be constituted as fo11ows:- ~ '

I—The chairman toibe‘ a. stipendiary magistrate. As much of the work of the Committee would demand a. knowledge of accounting, it was cdnsiflered that Mr_ J. S. Ba.rton., S.M., of Gisborne would be eminently suitable for the position. ‘

2—O'ne representétive of the N.Z. R.S.A. as representating the soldiers, for Whom and their dependants the funds Were primarily raised. ' 3—One representative of the War Funds Council___ _ -

4—-—One representative each from‘ the Patriotic Societies’ Advisory Board and from the Red‘Cross two of the largest holders of war funds, as bodies whose war Work is likely to continue for some time. Q 'l‘lie”order ofeireference of the Commision ‘should be the" broadest’ possible, and itsrrecommendations should b immediately .-laid before the Department. The‘ investigation should . include 1-‘-~.l——‘-The raising ‘of public funds for war purposes and their [administration with particular reference to the purpose for which they had been raised and economy in their administration. fl ‘

2~—'l‘he best? uses to which remaining funds should be devoted, with particular reference to the liquidation of assets and to the most efficient means of administration for any war work which may still be necessary. 3—The framing of recommwdations in reference to providing in tut case of a future war for the needs which in this case war funds have been raised to meet. _