PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 126, 28 May 1918, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

CONTROL OVER EXPENSES (Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON, this uay. A very strong stand is being taken by the War Funds Council, which controls the collection of patriotic funds, over the amount expended in expenses. There i have been instances, especially in Well- i ington, where the promoters of a fund- j raising scheme have lavished money, royally on "expenses," leaving but a j trifling balance—in one case nothing at j all—to hand over to the cause supposed I to benefit. To counteract this kind of thing, which has made the public suspicious of "patriotic entertainments, the War Funds Council is insisting upon a percentage limit being placed on expenses ' for every authorised entertainment. In . Wellington, the usual practice is to' allow lo per cent of the gross proceeds, this being the amount spent on the average by well-conducted efforts. Up to 25 per cent may occasionally be permitted, at the discretion of the local authority issuing the permit. Entertainments helc in country districts usually show the most economical j balance-sheets, the cost being frequently as low as two per cent of the receipts. To get a large audience in the towns means much advertising and printing, as the word-of-mouth method is not effec-1 tive. Another important regulation is now operating in connection with patriotic entertainments. No entertainment can be advertised as "part proceeds for patriotic purposes." Either the whole net proceeds must go to a patriotic pur-1 pose, or the entertainment will not be allowed to come into the category of "patriotic."