Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1941. PATRIOTIC FUNDS AND NATIONAL DUTY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, APRIL 21, 1941. PATRIOTIC FUNDS AND NATIONAL DUTY.

PLACING on record recently its warm appreciation of the. efforts of a small army of voluntary workers who have carried through an extremely successful fund-raising campaign, the Masterton District Patriotic Committee also decided unanimously that it should he a recommendation to the Department of Internal Affairs that any money required in future for provincial patriotic funds be raised by taxation.

There is nothing inconsistent in the committee’s attitude. Gratitude undoubtedly is due to all who’ labour unselfish!} in various ways, inspired by a sense of duty, Io raise money lor patriotic purposes. That being understood clearly, it does not by any means follow that the methods now-adopted in patriotic enterprise are the best that can be devised. More than a trace of irony appeared in the observations of some members of the District Patriotic Committee on the taxation proposal. One member said that it was a wonderful idea and another said that it was too wonderful. A great many people, however, are of opinion that better methods could and should be adopted of raising funds for patriotic purposes.

Obviously the problem involved is not solved merely by saying “taxation.” If it were agreed that taxation should be relied upon for the provision and replenishment of patriotic funds, a great deal of ■work would still have to lie done in determining what taxes should be imposed and how the proceeds should be applied. There is, however, a potent argument for the institution of some sort of universal patriotic levy in the fact that the objects to be served are in the fullest sense national and are not the affair of one group, section, or district more than that of others. The total problem presented may be simplified to some extent by giving to-this aspect ol the position—the universality of the patriotic appeal—the attention and the prominence it deserves.

The principal reason for raising patriotic funds by popular appeal and disbursing them otherwise than under the control of the Government- or any other general public authority is that in this way it is possible to give assistance, to those who deserve it, in much more flexible and adaptable conditions, and with a much greater element of human kindness, than is possible in normal conditions of public financial administration. Most, people will agree that whatever genuine opportunities of doing good in this way exist should on no account be neglected or sacrificed. This seems to imply that in any reorganisation of patriotic effort and enterprise committees or oilier organisations should be maintained to provide or procure assistance which cannot of will not be given in the ordinary way by the State.

It does not of necessity follow, however, that the present methods of raising and administering patriotic funds should be' continued unaltered. Amongst oilier things, these methods involve an immense amount of laborious effort, some of which may be called wasteful. Moreover, in face of even the briskest, fund-raising campaign, some people will evade appeals, while others will give more than they can reasonably afford. Taking account of factors of inequity, waste and disturbance, there is a great deal to be said for raising the bulk of the funds required by some sort of universal levy, equitably proportioned. Another point that may be worth considering is how far tlie present scale of patriotic enterprise confers benefits which it ought to be the responsibility of the State to provide. Benefits provided from patriotic funds fall into a number of divisions, among them comforts and amenities for members of the forces in training camps or on service, assistance in exceptional .cases to invalided or other soldiers at the stage of rehabilitation, and supplementary assistance to the dependants of soldiers. If is a question whether much of what is done, and is likely to be done, in these ways by patriotic societies should not be done bv the State.

Presumably every New Zealander worthy of the name is not only willing to he taxed, but desires Io ho taxed, to the extent that is necessary in order that the fullest possible .justice may he done to men, and women—for account has to bo taken of nurses and of women members of auxiliary services as well, as of fighting men—who have served their country in war, and certainly not least if they have incurred physical or .other disabilities in doing S o. Precisely lhe same is to he said of provision for the dependants’ of soldiers. Even in the matter of comforts and amenities the State should have its responsibilities. Patriotic fund money has been spent, for instance, in providing hand instruments and sports gear. Is it not entirely in keeping with our present-day ideas that amenities of this kind and. some others should be provided as far as possible for the members of all fighting services? And does it not follow that they should therefore he provided by the State and paid for out of taxation?

It is certainly the duty of the State to provide for the members of our fighting and other war services the best.' personal. equipment and dietary that are reasonable and possible in given circumstances. That being so, it is possible to claim provisionally that in the extent to which national responsibilities to oui' fighting forces are honestly accepted and honoured, the need and justification for supplementary patriotic effort will be restricted.

There are. of course, limits to provision by the State, lint the inevitable limits of ration and issue may be supplemented in a very valuable degree by an efficient organisation and conduct, of canteen services. There are occasions when war must involve existence on bare necessities, and at times hardship and privation. It is on that account so much the more a national duty, however, that where it is practicable, in base camps and elsewhere, canteens should he organised on the highest possible scale of efficiency, for the sale at moderate prices 'of such goods as soldiers and members of other fighting services need.

With the duration of lhe war still far from being determined, these questions should be given earnest and methodical consideration. The aim in considering them should be Io avoid all premature or prejudiced dogmatism ami to determine dispassionately,, amongst other things, the right degree of relative dependence upon patriotic appeal and a direct call on the public purse.