PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15724, 18 October 1916, Page 4

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

ALLEGED HOLD-UP OF MONEY

The Mayor (Mr H. Holland), who is president of the Canterbury Patriotic Society, was seen by a. representative of ''The Press" with respect to the statement made by tho Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, iu reply to criticisms regarding the alleged "hold-up" of funds contributed by Hhc Patriotic Societies of New Zealand' for tho Dominion's sick and wounded soldiers oversea.

Mr Holland said:—''it 6eeras to leave the matter ia as much mystery as before. If Mr Allen would mako a statement showing when each remittance was sent Homo and how much was sent out of the total of £18.000 subscribed by the Patriotic Societies of. the Dominion, the whole matter would be cleared up. Wo would like the Minister of Defence to sav how much of the amount subscribed by the societies was sent prior to September 2oth. 1916, as we understand that nothing wa« sent prior to that date, although the Patriotic Societies had been paying in since April, 1916." Asked regarding tho source of the information as to no remittances having been sent Home prior to September 25th, Mr Holland said:—''There seems to be a little misunderstanding on that point. The executive of the Cantorbury Patriotic Society did not make the discovery. The information was received from the Advisory Board in Wellington and that body is tho body that can state the source of the information."