PROPORTIONATE GIVING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 163, 22 May 1940, Page 4

PROPORTIONATE GIVING

CONSIDERATION to the method of raising funds from the community for war purposes, 'Is probably very opportune at the present time. With the gravity of the war issues now fully appreciated by the people generally, there is abroad., a keen desire to subscribe to and support all. kinds of Patriotic appeals, Red Cross, Sick and Wounded and innumerable other causes which the war has created. In spite of the undoubted worthiness of each individual appeal, there is always the danger of over-lapping and flogging the willing horse to a point of exhaustion. This already has happened over and over again—yet the war is comparatively young. The example of the Staff of a well-known local hotel, appeals to us, as the fairest and most agreeable method, of contributing to the war funds and if all wage-earners could be persuaded to voluntarily set aside say 6d in the £ from their wages every week, it would, result in a very handsome sum of money going forward from the town without the necessity of perpetual competitions; appeals and socials. The average working man could probably spare half a crown from his wages without feeling the loss, in £act it would be safe to presume, he would be glad to give this set amount, than to face periodic collections, which in the; long run would cost him much more. The scheme would have to be made a voluntary one, but it would be safe to assume that there would be few who would stand aloof, if it became generalIt would thus have the effect of roping m the niggardly and the tight-fisted.. All would be contributing on a fair and equitable basis, while the hardworking ladies and men's committees would be spared the continual strain of promoting more and, still more functions for money raising. There would naturally be a need for a responsible "Assessment" or "Distribution" committee, whose duty it would be to apportion out the money raised to each respective war avenue. This body need not be a large one, and could probably be linked with the local authority. The duty of collecting and handling the cash from each firm could be undertaken by members of the committee who would be responsible for different sections of the town. Once it was put on a sound and proper basis there can be no gainsaying that businessmen generally would welcome it in preference to the eternal appeals which in §pite if all to the contrary, do catch the willing horse time after time.