THE WAR FUNDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8300, 19 November 1915, Page 5

THE WAR FUNDS.

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES

CONFERENCE WITH AUTHOR I- : TIES. i. WELLINGTON, November ■&...' r A conference between the representatives of, the Patriotic 1 Societies , throughout New Zealand and fche Hon. G.. )V. Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), Hon. James Allen (Minister of Defence), and the Hon. A. L. Herdman (Discharged Soldiers' Information Department), is being held to-day, ! Mr Russell stated that the patriotic societies had raised, a total of '£892,154, of .which £272,000 Was for wounded soldiers, £358,000 for British, Belgian, and other relief funds, and £26,200 for other funds. Since then other amounts had been subscribed till at present the funds totalled over £1,000,000. Taking the funds as raised by the districts, the amounts were as follows:—Auckland, £128,239 (apart from the present effort to raiso £250,000); Taranaki, £22,180; Hawke's Bay, £49,906 (now being increased); Maryborough, £14,-' 324; Nelson, £20,120; Westland, £595; Canterbury, £145,374; Otago, £300,----43 3; Southland, £28,000. Mr Russell said he wished to clear up an impression that tho Government intended by means of the War Funds Act to collar patriotic funds. It had no such intention. It was establishing the War Funds Council, which . would hold, its first meeting this afternoon, the object being to secure efficient administration.

It was announced that Wellington's funds total £l&5,480. The conference dealt with questions relating to the functions of, and expenditure" by, patriotic societies. The

first matter was the supplementing of allowances for wives of married soldiers ".where necessary. The broad principle was affirmed and also proposals to assist parents or others depending wholly or partially, on soldiers or sailers, to assist and provide' comforts for the children of-soldiers, ,so that none may suffer from the absence o¥ parents at; the front, and additions to the incomes of soldiers whether in sorviee or discharged, where necessary.