RAISING WAR FUNDS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20910, 15 September 1939, Page 8

RAISING WAR FUNDS

EXPERIENCE OF LAST WAR NATIONAL SOPER/IHHMfc'fT,' l KOT THE SAME URGENT NEED ,Py Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday It was announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in the House of Representatives tonight that provision for the control of the raising and expenditure of war funds would be in operation within a week, and if necessary would be made retrospective. The Mayors of a number of towns, said Mr Parry, had been consulted on the subject and, at a special meeting of the National Centennial Council in Wellington this week, a resolution was unanimously passed recommending national control over the purposes for which war funds will he raised, the methods and collecting bodies, also authorities \Vhich should expend funds. The Minister suggested that the experience of the last war showed the necessity for a national control. New Zealand’s contribution per head to the Belgian relief fund was more than twice that of any other country in the world. The weakness in our generosity was mainly a degree of duplication and extravagance in the cost of collection, which must not be allowed to happen again. In 1919 there were no fewer than 983 separate war funds committees. The Minister suggested that there was not to-day the same urgent need for funds as existed at the beginning of the Great War. “The Government,” Mr Parry concluded, “sees no need for funds being collected on a huge scale in advance of requirements. It feels that the spirit of those who, it is clear, are so anxious to give will not be discouraged by the exercise of a little restraint, which may save much future embarrassment.. Our people may rest assured that as and when their generosity is required it will be requested through properly-organised channels.” OWNERSHIP OF WOOL TEMPORARY REGULATIONS CHECK TO SPECULATION (Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Thursday The wool emergency regulations issued to-night make it illegal to change or vary the ownership of wool. The regulations are to remain in force until October 14. “The purpose of the regulations relative to the transfer of ownership of wool is to prevent speculation or change of ownership while negotiations are in progress with the United Kingdom Government in connection with the purchase of wool during the period of the war,” said the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, in explaining the regulations. “Wool is defined to include greasy wool, slipe wool, scoured wool, sheepskins and wool growing on any sheep or lamb, but it does not include that which is at present in process of manufacture or treatment in a woollen mill. “Breaches of the regulations are punishable by a fine not exceeding £2OO or imprisonment up to 12 months in the case of an individual, or a fine not exceeding £IOOO in the case of a company or corporation.”