Y.M.C.A. FUNDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1919, Page 6

Y.M.C.A. FUNDS.

COMMENTS BY THE R.A.S.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The general secretary of the New Zealand 'Returned. Soldiers' Association, in a lengthy statement issued to-night, points out that it is close on a fortnight since the National Executive of the Young Men's Christian Association promised to secure for publication a report of the auditors on the war funds balance-sheets. The R.S.A. consequently is unable to delay longer the .publication of its answering statement. The R.S.A. regrets that the mass of figures now .published fall short of what they are supposed to represent, viz., a full statement of income and expenditure of the patriotic account controlled by the trustees and executive of the Y.M.C.A. war fund. The balance-sheet of the Dominion transactions and subsidiary accounts in connection with coupons and the soldiers' hostel in Boulcott Street Bee'iight for the first time, while the London statements cover a different period from the Dominion accounts, and prove worthless in any attempt to arrive at reconciliation with the main account. The statement now before the public strengthens tho opinion previously held that an independent inquiry into the management of patriotic funds is needed In the interests of both subscribers and of the men the subscriptions were intended to relieve. . After examining this reply, the R.S.A. feels fully justified in maintaining that the explanation made I>y the Y.M.C.A. executive not only does not prejudice the attitude of the R.S.A. in its demand for a commission of inquiry, hut actually Strengthens the R.S.A. case by admitting careless and faulty accounting and the U£6 of funds for other purposes than: they were originally subscribed for. Appended to the statement is a comment on each part of the Y;M.C.A. explanation as Dublished. It is pointed out that only the net receipts of Red Triangle Day are shown. The method used fails to disclose the cost of raising the money as well as the true amount contributed. Taking; the disbursement of free comforts at the figure shown in the English statement (£40,885), the percentage of New Zealand money disbursed freely amounts to less than 20 per cent. The admission that the sum of £18,158 was sent to representatives of trustees of the Y.M.C.A. war fund in Egypt during the two years ended September 30, 1919, is still unaccounted for, and the trustees are unable to produce statements of accounts at this late date. Aa to how the £26,550 was expended up to March 31, 1919, the R.S.A. considers disturbing. Regarding the secretaries, the R.S.A. expresses itself as satisfied that the staff paid from the Y.M.C.A. war fund in New Zealand is (or was) not whollyemployed in war work, and contend that the Y.M.C.A. organisation has not been demobilised in ratio with the troops. In the course of Its concluding remarks the RjS.A. states it had hoped that by the appointment of a commission the whoKmatter would be disposed of finally and authoritatively. Its first statement asked for information and expressed no opinion. The Y.M.C.A., however, adopted the policy of lying low, evidently in expectation that the necessity for investigation might be forgotten. It has declined to support the commission, and has not shown any reason for its failure to publish the auditor's report. Therefore the R.S.A. has been obliged to go further and comment in detail on the .Y.M.C.A. reply.