PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 September 1940, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

RED CROSS SOCIETY CRITICISED. AN INQUIRY DEMANDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 23. Complaints that the New Zealand Red Cross Society was continuing to collect funds specifically for the relief of sick and wounded, despite the large sum already raised for this purpose, were made at a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council tonight, and a motion was carried asking for a Government inquiry into these and other activities which were considered to be in contravention of the Patriotic Funds Regulations. In reporting on a recent conference of provincial council secretaries in Wellington, Mr K. L. Usmar stated that the matter had been discussed there and dissatisfaction had been expressed. Mr W. Jones, Whangarei, said that in his zone those who were working for the provincial fund were also dissatisfied and felt that the continued activities of the Red Cross in this direction were definitely hampering their own efforts. The chairman. Sir Ernest Davis, remarked that in his opinion the matter would only be cleared up by the appointment of a Government commission of inquiry.

Mr J. A. C. Allum suggested that if such a commission were set up it should go into the whole question of the collecting of funds outside the regulations. .It was resolved to recommend to the national council that an endeavour be made to have an inquiry undertaken by a commission into the raising of funds for patriotic purposes, with particular reference to the Red Cross.