THE RELIEF FUNDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 236, 15 March 1915, Page 5

THE RELIEF FUNDS.

'. ON A NEW BASIS. ■ \ • Wellington, March 12. The. following resolutions were passed 1 at a conference held at Government House this afternoon, presided over by liis Excellency the Governor, at which the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, representatives of various patriotic committees, and delegates from the centre of the Association of St. John of Jerusalem throughout the Do- , minion ewere present: —(1) That the Government be recommended to make . a definite grant of £SOOO per month, and in addition to subsidise at the rate of £ for £ all voluntary subseriptiona up to any amount not exceeding £SOOO per month, in New Zealand for the relief of the Belgian nation; <2)'' that voluntary subscriptions be asked for on a population basis: (3) that a central authority be appointed by the Minister of Finance for dealing with the' transmission of all gifts, both in money and land, for the relief of the poor in the United Kingdom and Belgum; (4) that all donations in money for Red Cross purposes he sent cither - direct from the centres ot the Associa- . tion of St., John in the. Dominion to ; the headquarters in London, or through the medium of the above-mentioned ; authority if the centres so desire. Fur- ■ ther, that the above-mentioned auth- ■ , ority should be available for making all arrangements in connection with the transmission of other gifts contributed in New Zealand for Red Cross purposes, which, in the first instance, should be sent through the various centres of ths Order of St. John in accordance with the working arrangement arrived at ■ between the AssgobMoii of St. John and the Red Cross Society in the United Kingdom. ! A BELATED THREAT. Wellington, March 13. Speaking to a Post reporter to-day on the subject of the price of flour, the Prime Minister said: ".Speaking on behalf of the Government, if there are any further increases in t!i 0 price of bread. ' the Government will establish bakeries in the four principal centres of the Dominion with the object, of regulating > prices." RUSSIAN RESERVISTS. . Wellington, March 12. The Vice-Consul for Ku-mii has received cable advice froni the Russian Government to the effect that the Czar will permit all Russian reservists now in New Zealand to join the Dominion Expeditionary if they desire to do so.