USE OF FUNDS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 3

USE OF FUNDS

SICK AND WOUNDED UNDER NATIONAL BODY NO OVERSEAS CONTROL (By Telegraph.— Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Commenting on a report from Hastings regarding the uses to which the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund of more than £500,000 is to be put, Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board, said there was no foundation for any suggestion that any other body than the National Patriotic Fund Board had the control of these moneys. There was also no justification for any belief that the board intended parting with that control to any overseas organisation, said Mr Hayden. The money would remain under the board’s control, and would be expended under the board’s supervision by the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society for the benefit of the sick and wounded. No money was being handed over to the International Red Cross, Geneva. At no time had there been anv intention to hand any of the money to this body. The only way in which this organisation would handle money from New Zealand would be for .attending to the welfare of New Zealand prisoners of war, for which specific grants would be made. It was correct that grants had been made from New Zealand to the French, Norwegian and Belgian Red Cross organisations, but that had been done before those countries had been overrun by the Germans, and, Mr Hayden said, he thought no one would object to such action having been taken. Moreover, some of this money had been given specifically for this purpose and the greater part of

it had been granted before the Order of St. John and Red Cross appeal for £250.000 for the sick, wounded and distressed, was launched. AUCKLAND PROVINCE SUM OF £189,262 IN HAND (By Telegrapli.—.-pedal to Times) AUCKLAND, Tuesday Following the Sick, Wounded and Distress appeal in the Auckland Province a sum of £189.262 is in hand, and it. is possible that a further £IOOO to £I2OO will yet be received. Of the amount in hand £31,038 was received through the radio appeal out of a total of £31,578 promised. According to the treasurer of the appeal, Mr C. H. Battley, the accounts should be completed within a few days. Additions to both the general fund and the radio appeal total are still to come through realisations on sections and other gifts. Mr Battley said the total expenditure on the appeal throughout the province was just under £2OOO, or slightly over 1 per cent of the amount obtained. That result had been possible through the great amount of honorary work.