MAYOR AND MINISTER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 33, 8 February 1916, Page 6

MAYOR AND MINISTER.

AUCKLAND PATRIOTIC FUND. GOVERNMENT OPPOSES "MAXIMUM" CLAUSE. ; The statement that patriotic funds are being hoarded is attributed to the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. G. W. Russell) iD a message from the South. When this was reierred to the Mayor of Auckland he replied that, so far as Auckland was concerned, it was quite unjustified. The work of our Claims Board had already accounted for a large amount being disbursed to disabled men acd to dependents, while any returned man could rest assured that help was available on application. ! A letter which has been received from the .Minister by the Auckland War Relief Association suggests certain alterations in the Auckland rules, which it is proposed to have incorporated under the provisions of the War Pensions Act, 1015. Mr. Russell states that Cabinet is of opinion that tho maximum rates in cases of death and disablement do not represent the generous patriotism of the people ol the Auckland province in subscribing for the sick and wounded soldiers the very large sura which is held by the Association. The rules provide that the maximum assistance which can be given to a widow is 5/- per week, with 1/- extra for each child. The Gov- I eminent recognises that tho right of pay- ! ing whatever the executive may think in necessitous cases rests absolutely with the executive. There is no desire to interfere with"the' administrtitron" of the fund, but at the same time it is not prepared to state that such payments as those mentioned shall be the maximum. The Government suggests that the executive shall affirm the principle | that there be no maximum payment. ■ The matter having been fully considered iiy the Auckland Executive the Mayor is forwarding a reply in which he states that for purposes of incorporating' the rules it has been decided to delete i the clause relating to the "maximum"; rate. "At the same time," he proceeds, '■ "the executive desires mc to respectfully, j yet emphatically, protest against the action of the Government in this matter." The protest is based upon the ground of the Government's admittance that the executive has the right to pay' whatever may be thought St iv uecessi-1 tous cases. Such payments were not the j maximum, and the schedule was adopted at a fully representative conference of provincial delegates. By the Minister's communication the executive wae confirmed in its opinion that there was a distinct tendency on the part of Ijhe Government to lean upon tlie patriotic funds for the purpose of relieving the liability of the general taxpayer under the operations of the Pensions Act This, it is submitted, is wrong in principle. The Auckland Executive is of opinion," the li-tter proceeds, "that the scale of payments under the Act is quite liberal, but that to date the administration of the Act has in many instances been ungenerous. By the withdrawal of the schedule at your direction the executive does not 'affirm the principle' that there is no maximum payment. Your suggestion represents a policy which the provincial conference of Auckland delegates determined against, and which would bo decidedly inimical to the fund, for it would cause lack of uniformity m districts throughout the province." The Mayor concludes by noting that the Minister has promised to recommend the Governor to sign tho documents for incorporation.