WAR FUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1939, Page 7

WAR FUNDS

MINISTER ASKS THAT HALT BE CALLED UNTIL CONTROL MACHINERY IS IN OPERATION. GOVERNMENT SHAPING PLANS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. “The Government feels it is in os', essential that bodies already in the field soliciting donations should call a halt,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs. Mr Parry, when referring to thi collection of war funds in a statemen in the House of Representatives las', night. Within the next, week at the latest. he said, all necessary machinery provisions for control of the raisin? and expenditure of war 'funds would be in operation, and if necessary these previsions would be made retrospective.

Mr Parry said mayors and othei local body chairmen had been subject ed to considerable pressure in theii own districts by societies and individ ual citizens anxious to do something tc help the Dominion and those who, if the occasion called for, would join the British forces in the field. Actually several bodies had made a begin ning with the collection of funds. ( At a special meeting of the National Centennial Council in Wellington tw< days ago, the following resolutions hat been passed:—

“1. That there must be some forir of national control over: (a) The pur poses for which war funds may be raised; (b) The methods by which sue! funds may be raised; (c) The bodie' by which such funds may be raised (d) The bodies by which such fund; may be expended. “2. That the Government, at a r early a date as possible, make a pub lie pronouncement on the whole question of patriotic activities- and wafunds, giving some indication of th< present and prospective needs of the Dominion in both directions, and brinj down such legislation or emergency regulations as may be necessary to con trol the position in the light of the preceding resolution.” “The Government is giving seriou consideration to ways and means ot ensuring that both those who will give so freely of their effort and those whe subscribe may rest assured that their generosity will bear full fruit,” MParry said. “It is obvious, to my mind, that for the moment at least there is a clear distinction between this war and the last. Owing to the circumstances prevailing in 1914 the need for war funds was immediately a live issue. It is worth emphasising that the whole basis of war funds is the man on. active service. in danger of his life, and all that means to himself and his dependants. At the present time the immediate circumstances are different, and there is not the same urgent need foi' the raising of funds as existed at the beginning of the Grqat War. We now have time for the preparation of effective arrangements to meet the requirements’ of a whole-hearted and united drive. It is desired that the Dominion’s effort should in no way be divided, and that, pending the making of national arrangements, individual action should for the moment be withheld. “The Government sees no need for funds being collected on a huge scale in advance of requireements. It feels that the spirit of those who, it is clear are so anxious to give will'not be discouraged by the exercise of that little restraint which may save much future embarrassment. Our people may resi assured that as and when»their generosity is required it will be requested through nroperly organised channels.”