PATRIOTIC COLLECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 207, 30 August 1918, Page 3

PATRIOTIC COLLECTIONS.

ISSUE OF PERMITS. MORE STRIXGEXT ACTIOX. A communication lias been received by the Mayor from the Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs in reference to the issue of permits for collections for patriotic purposes. This communication states: "111 In consequence of tin- lar;;e number of direct appeals from organisations untsidc the Dominion to patriotic societies for assistance, and the necessity for safeguarding societies and the public from tnakin<! contributions to funds which arc not officially recognised by tlie Itritish and Allied (im,Turnouts." 1 am .lire.ted by the Hon. Minister to advise you that under no circumstances should appeals Ik , made or donations granted in response to such appeals unless and. until the funds in i|iiostion have received his approval ill accordance with the provisions of section 33 of the War Legislation Act. 1!>I7. i-t The collection and transmission of money to named officers, chaplains, nurses, and others for providing cocnforts, etc.. for "members of the forces has caused considerable difficulty in many cases through ihe transfer of sue!: oflicers from one Uase to another. Siich remittances should always be made to the officer, chaplain, or nuree in charge, and not to a particular individual. If this is done, the moneys forwarded to si particular base for the benefit of members of the forces in camp or hospital could Ix , properly expended for such purpose by the officers or nurses then in touch with the men, ami the consequent expense and delay necessitated by retransmitting money would lv* avoided."

Referring to the 'matter, Mr. Ciuneon "aid this was in furtherance of the intimations that bad been made from tim.->.to time as to the necessity of obtainiug jiennits. in accordance with the Act, for' all collections, whether for goods, material, or cash, or on behalf of any object in connection with the present war. Any collections without these permits were illegal. From the communication now received it appeared that the Department intended to take more stringent action in regard to any breaches of the Act than had been taken hitherto. As the organisations at present existing were distinctly good, and there were a siillicient number to meet reasonable claims arising out of the war or war work, strict enforcement of the regulations was to lie commended. Nofiling was more deplorable than the waste of effort on the part of well intentioned patriotic workers because of their failure to attach themselves to a leading organisation. This bad been amply proved by experience, and the Departmem. of Internal Affaire was evidently of the game opinion.