SICK AND WOUNDED FUND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1940, Page 2

SICK AND WOUNDED FUND

PATRIOTIC COMMITTEE'S CRITICISM.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) HASTINGS. August 9.

Criticism of the manner in which Sick, Wounded and Distress Appeal funds had been dispensed was expressed at a meeting of the Hastings Zone Patriotic Committee, which decided to request the Government to retain in New Zealand the balance of the money raised over and above £250.000 for use in the rehabilitation of soldiers on their return. It was contended that people were misled into giving £600,000 instead of the £250,000 aimed at by the joint Red Cross Society and St. John Ambulance appeal committee, it not being fully appreciated that the money would be handled by the Red Cross International in Geneva and not solely for the benefit of New Zealand’s fighting services.

It was recently disclosed that £lO.000 had been sent to France, Norway and Belgium, and a further sum was about to be sent to Holland when it was stopped. It would appear, it was stated, that unless some action was taken by the Government the full sum raised would be used for the benefit of soldiers of all nationalities and not exclusively for New Zealand men. The committee decided to urge the Government to take steps to retain the balance of the fund over £250,000 in New Zealand, and a petition urging this action is being circulated.