PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6487, 14 September 1915, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

PROPOSALS FOR AUCK-

LAND PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION.

The following ietetr from the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, addressed to his Worship the Mayor wilt be considered at the public meeting in the Coronation Hall to-morrow night:—

,'Sir, —In accordance with the resolutions of the meeting held on the 25th August at the Town Hall, Auckland, at which there were present the Mayor of Whangarei. Otahuhu, Te Kuiti, Frankton, Devonport, Birkenhead, also the ratmbers of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, I have now the honour to submit attached hereto'; the following suggestions regarding proposed unification of all Patriotic Funds in the Auckland Province.

It is desired by the Executive that I should emphasise the desirability of unity throughout the Province in connection with the important matter of an adequate fund to enable assistance to be given to the returned wounded soldiers and dependents thereof.

As a first principle no doubt it will be admitted that no returned soldier in necessitous circumstances should go lacking in assistance, and that relatively all should be treated alike. This will involve a much heavier demand upon some districts than others; it is with a view of unifying and harmonising the whole of the Provincial interests that these proposals are submitted. Outside of the provision of the State Pensions Act it is clear that there will be numerous cases which will constitute a proper claim upon the practical gratitude of the people of this country. By means of the present suggestion overlapping to which there is a great habilitv, if not entirely obviated will be largely overcome. There ia also the benefit without disability of one central organisation, both in regard to investment fland disbursment. The costs in adminstering the fund will be relatively very small. Tbe whole of the Association Members the Executive and Chairmen ot various sub-committees are gratuitously giving their time as are the committees and leaders in the respective Centres of the Province. Apart from the secretirial work no expenses are being incurred.

Th Auckland Corporation have placed the accommodation of the Town Hall at the disposal of the Association and as every facility exists there, and the machinery of the Corporation is at the disposal of the Executive, the interests cf the Fund are thus helped considerably.

It will be recognised that'during the past 12 months the Auckland Executive has done work not only of a provincial but of a national character. In the first camp at Auckland and subsequently at Trentham its woik has been of a wide nature, for "our boys" fisom all parts of the Province have been provided for in one way or another. Further the sum of .£6250 and equipment valued £8000 was sent for the hospital ship Maheno. This was not to benefit the boys of any one centre, but our New Zealand boys generally. In other ways, too, much has been accomplished. The present appeal of tbe Mayoress of Auckland at the instance of Her Excellency, the Countess of Liverpool, for leather waistcoats for "our boys" is another illustration of the work carried on for the benefit of all. The time is coming when, obviously, more must be done. A renewed effort is now due, and the Executive is of opinion that our aim should be to raise a fund of at least £250,300 in this province. This can be accomplished only by the hearty and enthusiastic co-operation of all centres. Flo that end we now seek your further assistance, and in appealing for your practical support and sympathy we feel sure that you will realise that not only on the above grounds, but in the interests of your own men and district it is desirable that, co-operation as now aimed at should be effected without delay. Again the Executive has now unaer consideration the launching of a considerable effort in the nature of a carnival in Auckland to take place at the end of the year. It is expected that by this means alone a large sum will fee added to the fund. The whole of the city's resources are at the disposal of the Province, and we' feel sure that in this matter there will be reciprocation on the part of the Provincial Centres.

We have'touched only the fringe of this work. The major portion of our task lies ahead; we must look forward to a sustained effort over some years, and further to the necessity of faithful and efficient administration of the fund, perhaps for a period of 20 or |more years. The administration must be placed upon a business footing. If the main terms of amalgamation are agreed upon, it will be necessary to draft a scale, to be uniformly followed in the matter of disbursements, with of course, reasonable latitude, but in due eourrs'tbat would receive attention.

As enthusiasm wanes and the interest becomes less general with the flight of years tbe difficulties of providing and aministering to our boys or dependents who may be drawing upon the funds, will be greater than we shall experience at the outset.

With the details of the proposed amalgamation now submitted for con-

Fideration and comments which we have pleasure in offering herein, we would respectfully ask you to bring the question before your Committee forthwith, and we would be greatly obliged if you would promptly reply. JS The proposals, of course, are subject to any desirable modification. If anything occurs to you in which you think they might be improved we shall be pleased to receive your suggestions and give to them most careful attention. Commending the question to your earnest consideration and thanking you in anticipation, —i am, etc., J. Y. WARREN. Sercetary. Auckland, Sept Ist, 1915."

Draft of proposals for consideration of provincial centres regarding amsl- I Kamation of all the Auckland provincial funds under (he Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association. I.—That the Province be apnortione:! into Provincial areas as follows: — Administering Centre — Auckland (Head Office); controlling, City, Boroughs, and Counties Rodney, Waiterr.ata. Eden, Manukau. Hamilton —Borough and Counties Raglan, Waikato. Cambridge—Borough and Counties Piako, Waipa. Dargaville—Borough and Counties Hobson, Hokia.iga, Manganui, Otamatea. Whangarei—Borough and Counties Whangaroa, Whangarei, Bay of islands. Te Aroha, Paeroa, Waihai, Thames —Boroughs and Counties Ohinemuri, Thames, Coromande), including Barrier. Tauranga—Tauranga Borough and County. Whakatane — Whakatane Borough and County. Opotiki—Opotiki, Waiapu Boroughs and Counties. Rotorua—Rotorua, Taupo, Borough and Counties. Te Kuiti—Borough and Counties Waitomo, Kawhia, Awakino. NOTE. —The above comprises the whole of the Auckland Military Dis trict. 2.—Each of the above Provincial Centres to appoint or retain its own Committee, the Chairman of which shall ex-officio be a member of the Auckland Association. All Frovincial Sub-Committees to undertake active canvas of their respective districts, and remit proceeds to the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association. 3. —Powers of Provincial Sub-Com-mittees to be as follows: Subject to the control of tfte Executive of the Auck'and Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, which will administer the Auckland City District as allotted, the Committees have power:— (a) To deal with all the claims of wounded and invalided soldiers and the dependents thereof, also the dependents of those killed, domiciled within the respective districts. No case arising from one district shall be dealt with by another.,, (b) With tbe object of providing the necessary fund 9 for the purposes of section "A" tbe respective Committees shall draw as occasion requires upon the treasurers of the fund at Auckland, such drafts to be free of exchange in accordance with arrangements to be made with the Bankers to the fund. £ (c) Regular monthly reports from each" Committee showing operations and giving details of all moneys disbursed shall be furnished to the Secretary of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic and War Relief Association, and' such, with the Auckland returns, shall be tabulated and a copy promptly sent to each Committee for the pnrposes of a check upon claimap.tsjalso to keep the Committees posted as to the general, administration of the fund.

NOTE. —This is in accordance with the needs of the district and net governed by its contribution. Some wealthy districts will assist in this way the men of the poorer districts or where districts have provided a large quota of men, necessary support is assured.

ROAD