Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1940. AN INCOMPLETE RESPONSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1940, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1940. AN INCOMPLETE RESPONSE

ALTHOUGH some generous donations have been made, there has been throughout the Dominion, on the whole, a. much less ready and liberal response than in 1914 and afterwards to the Patriotic Funds appeal. The. Governor-General., it is true, was able to state, in his New Year broadcast, that “some magnificent individual contributions have already been made and that: “The scheme for the collection of money by the sale of seals has produced splendid results to date.” The direct appeal for contributions appears in many instances, however, to have fallen rather flat.

Some people by no means unable to contribute if they felt so inclined frankly refuse to make voluntary donations, on account of the present and prospective scale of taxation. II this view is to be taken and acted upon by any considerable section of the population it may be necessary for the Government to revise its war organisation plans to the extent of meeting from the public funds the cost of comforts and recreational and other benefits for our soldiers which were provided in the Great War by patriotic organisations financed by voluntary public offerings. If the Patriotic Funds organisation is to stand, and is to serve, its intended purpose, it must be supported with sustained liberality by the public generally. A reluctance on the part of any considerable part of the population to contribute would mean either that the funds needed would not be provided, or that an undue burden would be.imposed on those who did respond to the patriotic appeal.

The whole question should be brought to a definite determination. With large additional forces being mobilised to go abroad, it is clear that the need for patriotic funds will expand considerably in the comparatively near future, if the standards set during the Great War in providing for the comfort and wellbeing of our troops are to be maintained. There is an incomplete assurance, as matters stand, that the funds needed will be made available. From those who are connected with the management of patriotic funds it may be learned that there have been some instances of an emphatic refusal to contribute.

It is, of course, for the people of the Dominion to decide whether patriotic funds are or are not to be provided and disbursed on a scale of liberality, as in the days of the last war. The matter is not one on which any individual, whatever opinions he or she may hold on the subject of taxation and cognate questions, should jump to a hasty conclusion. It is > well established that some of the things that may be done for the comfort and benefit of our soldiers overseas can be accomplished far better by well-directed voluntary effort than by any practicable operation of .State machinery. It has to be considered, also, that the war makes demands of a special and searching kind to which we should all be very willing to respond in the measure of our ability and opportunity. Against the sacrifice that is demanded of the soldier, the utmost that is asked of those who stay at home does not as a rule —probably in the case of the great majority—bulk very formidably. It needs to be considered whether it is consistent with our selfrespect as a people that we should withhold the combined effort and sacrifice which would serve to build up adequate patriotic funds.

Under the arrangements which thave been-made there is an assurance that these funds will be administered and disbursed with the greatest possible benefit, to our troops. There is no question of Government interference with the disposal of the funds, but measures have been taken, as the GovernorGeneral has said, “to obviate that overlapping which took place in the last war and to ensure that the value of every shilling subscribed will reach those for whom it is intended in the best and most acceptable form.” If is plainly desirable that 1 his important question should be discussed freely, in the extent to which it involves differences of opinion, and should be brought to a decisive settlement.