THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8204, 29 July 1915, Page 2

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

PROBLEM OF ADMINISTRATION

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON

WELLINGTON, July 27

A provincial conference of delegates of committees interested in the administration of the war, relief funds was held in Wellington to-day. The Mayor of Wellington (Mr J. P. Luke) presided. The suggested scheme for the administration^ of the funds was outlined, and entailed a discussion that lasted all the afternoon.

The scheme, which was prepared by Mr C. P. Skerrett, K.C., is briefly that a society should be. constituted and incorporated for the administration of funds within the military district of Wellington. The association should consist} exclusively of local societies ' for raising and administering relief hinds within their respective districts, such societies to be constituted and incorporated as branch societies of the association. The objects of the association. should be to control and regulate the administration of the funds to some uniform scheme to be determined by the executive' committee of the association for the relief and benefit of New Zealand soldiers and their dependents, and a,s far as possible to spread such relief" equitably and uniformly over the whole district without reference to locality, or to the amount-of money raised for the purposes of the fund in each district. Other objects of the association would be to adopt means to prevent the improper exploitation of the funds of branches which could most conveniently deal with them. Another object would be to promote the creation of a national fund throughout the Dominion either by pooling the funds of nil branches or other organisations, or by organising and amalgamating with a national organisation having for its object administration throughout, the Dominion of war relief .funds and other moneys, devoted to similar purposes. Among the proposed objects of the. branches were included the establishment and maintenance of employment bureaux for returned soldiers and sailors, and the subsidising of any hospital or charitable institution in which any wounded or incapacitated soldier or sailor may be maintained. It was also provided that any branch might provide by its rules that contributions out of its fund not exceeding 25 per cent, thereof should be made to any branch of the St. John Society in New Zealand,' or to any guilds or committees whose members are working for the benefit of any hospital for New Zealand soldiers and sailors.

The suggested basis for the establishment of a national scheme was put forward by the Wairarapa delegate. The suggestion was embodied in a, recommendation that the military district of Wellington (comprising Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay land districts) should be divided for tho convenience of collection and distributing funds in aid of the wounded soldiers into 10 areas (enumerated), to be called Patriotic Fund districts.