WAR RELIEF FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2568, 16 September 1915, Page 6

WAR RELIEF FUNDS

WHATiCONTROL? CONFERENCE WANTS RATIONAL SCHEME ' MBi. SKERRETT'S APPEAL Yeaterday»&)flegate3 Zear land Patriotio Societies conferred 1 in (Wellington, and 1 by an overwhelming majority decided in favour of a national scheme for the administration of funds,raised by. ithe nation to sup-plement-the pensions jxiyable by the Government of the nation to the soldiers and the-sailors (and - their dependents), who. have fought in the military : forces of the nation.

The conference was presided over by the Mayor of "Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke), and during his temporary absence by-the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr. J. Nash). Tho other delegates present were:—Messrs. Alf. lYaser, Boston; L.;-Tripp, Welling- ■ ton; F. Buchanan, North TaTanaki; —. Becklessinger, North Taranaki; W. P. Kirkwood, Stratford; -B. W.' J. M'Neill, Auroa, Otokaho; J. E:. Wilson, New Plymouth; J. Therkleson, Taranaki; G. B. -'''Horner, Patea;;G. L.;Dennison, Dimedin; T. M. Spence, Marlborough; R. Galbraith, Ashburton; B. G. H. Burn, Karori; Harold Smith, Pahiatua; A. Campbell, Peild:ing; J. A. Nash, Palmerston North; J. ,J. .'Dougall, Christchurch;' J.- Grimmond, iWestland; D. J. Evans, Westland; E. J. Scantlebury, Reefton: A. Leaver, Westport; G., Spriggens,' Wanganui, Deputy : Mayor; B. R. Gardner, :Levin; P. C. Wil--eon, Marton; G. S./Steadman,- Taumaranui; J." H. Morrison, Makotuiku, Hawke'a ißay; J. M'lntosli, Wellington; W. A. Chambers, Waipukurau; Hope Gibbons, .Wanganui; -W. ...Spragg, Auckland; M. . 'Murray, Napier; A. B. Knight,' Dannevirke; E. A.' Ranson, • Dannevirke; S. ICirkcaldie, Wellington; C. S. Cray, Timaru; J. Maling, Timaru; C. P. Sker- : rett, Wellington; J. :Harding, Woodville; T A. H. Field, M.P., Nelson; J. Strang, Palmerston North; —. Chicken, 'Nors"wood; ■—.. S'nbdgrass, Nelson;. —. Phara- " zyn, Hastings; J. CJ Smith,'M.P.,; and J. (Vigor Brown,- M.P; A Modification ,of Former Scheme. • In opening .the./conference, Mr. Liike ■ said that-it '<was:-regrettable that: unity .'hod not: been; attained yet.'.. He hoped . that the conference would decide in favour of a national scheme;(Applause.) Mr. C. P. .Skerrett''(Wellington) said ' that he was about to move > resolution . which endeavoured to arrive- at an agree- ; ment 011 the essentials, of the yropo3ad .association,. and if that' could be arrived rat there would be no difficulty in framing . the. .rules; , with:a principle agreed upon, ithe;"details .could bo easily ; decided. He moved

. "1. This conference affirms the desirI .ability of establishing a Natioßal Association, consisting of representatives of l Jocai societies and. branches, for the pur- ■ pose 'of facilitating co-operation • by; all. .local societies and brandies in the adj ministration- of ; war . relief : funds;- and .! that the mamipriiicipals. of jsuch National | dissociation shall Ire as hereinafter stated. '2. Eacli local -society and branch shall 'hare full:control of the investment and . administration of its funds, but the N.Z. Association; may:—(a) Set up a' standard •bcalo of relief, for' the 1 guidance of local societies and branches. : (b) Define the ! arei in' wliicli the several , local societies V and branches: shall- raise -.and expend its f- funds, (c). Define some uniform principal upon which.claims'foi ; relief shall be assigned- to local> societies- and -branches ■to fbe .dealt with by them—for example, de- .; termine whether. in. the case of claims by soldiers the place of .enrolment, or.,the .'residence at. the -time of enrolment; or '.in tho case of claims dependents the residence of the applicant or. the "person in .respect of. whose service, the application is based shall fix. the local branch to deal with the applicaton. (d) Make provision that any local society or branch may act for and expend moneys on behalf of. the latter society or branch, (e) Provide for the determination of all dis- . putes branches ■ or" between, •branches and the National Society.. (f) To investigate and report to the conference on any matter arising out of the administration of funds by branches. 3. The conference-niay at any . time, should: the necessity arise, for the purpose of giving, effect;to.,the fundamental object i of the association, namely, that no soldier .or sailor, or his'dependents coming within .the purposes of the funds of it branches j shall; be without relief:—(a) From time .to time fix just and equitable contributions to be paid by branches n possesson jof ample funds to or iri 'favour of :branches whoso funds are found ~to bo ■inadequate to. meet' proper: claims upon : their funds. (b) The contribution, so 'fixed shall be in every case based on some ..Hmiform; principal applicable to the Do"mmion and all branches. ', (c). Bule? for : more effectually giving effect to this ob- . 'ject may be adopted by the National . Association."

v. "Little Short of National Calamity." 1 "I behevo it wdl bo little short.of a national calamity if *e separate to-day .without coining to an.agreement for the national organisation of these war; funds," «aid Mr. Skerrett,. speaking to his mo■ition. "I believe that if we fail to arrive at .unity it will be because we are in''competent to deal with a big question, or are so irrationaUminded that we cannot ''accomplish, it. (Applause.) ' The main . • objections to this scheme are based on complete misunderstanding of the posi- ; jtion. At no time was this scheme put ■' forward except as a suggestion or basis for •the purpose of arriving- at a good 'bch'eme." A large portion of these 'moneys had been given expressly to a [national fund. Not a sixpence had been ;given on the supposition that the funds: ■ were to be put,, in ■ a watertight; compart; •meat and given•'out for;relief in Otago, Auckland,' or 'any particular district. It • was necessary that local societies should : know exactly what oases of relief should, fall' within their, jurisdiction so that (thev. would know what tliey had to deal .with. Then there was the notorious 'act ' that certain people, were withholding very large donations because thero was; no national scheme in existence.: Tho consequence of a failure to arrive, at a. national Bchome would be confusion. Moreover, : the 7 patriotic societies were not set up. for the administration of funds, but for .•;'thb>- collection of funds. He could'. I imagino no.mdre satisfactory way of bov-> erning a national fimd than through a ' committee drawn from the local societies. Here it was alleged that Christchurch ,ns .well as Otago were objecting to ifr. .'Sker'retfs scheme. • ■ Mr. Skerrett: Yes, but Christchurch ' passed its resolution through a misunderstanding of. the position. • / A Christchurch delegate: The .schenio was very fully explained to us. Mr Skerrett: I don't think it could have'been. And I venture to say that • if unanimity is obtained here these soi cieties will, not be able' to stand. out. Ti they attemptto stand out of~ a national scheme, I am perfectly certain that publiCi;opinion will force thejn, to come in. (Applause.) "Must There be Cadging From Door-to-Door?" • Criticising the idea of local schemes, Mr. Skerrett said that with separate local schemes one district would bo saying that such-and-such a man who enlisted in their (Ifetrict had come from another district and- must dra* his Tclief from there; und the other district would be saying $hat they only provided for men who eu'isted in tneir distnet. Some districts 'had provided mor> than their fair share >f men wording to population. If some ■'of those districlc wore poor districts, they might not have enough money to -to round the soldiers and t soldiers detiendents who belonged to that district. A large number of men'in. proportion to population' had eone from the back-blocks jf Taranaki. Were the mon from there •■to suffer if the funds of the local societies bocame exhausted? Or were the Taranaki societies to go from door to door cadging for money for men who were justly entitled to relief? Suppose, also, there were eight districts who could give that relief; and while seven agreed , to fto so, olio refused, might not the result be that all would ultimately refuse, and would not the whole thing fall to the ground like a nack.of cards? Those were, gossibiitics.'unless rules were made now. "Tho- -men who are- fighting foe-- -thift.

country look to you to frame a' national scheme," continued Mr. Skerrett. "If these districts out of a desire for power, or out of local jealousy, prevent such a scheme from coming into being, then, I say, they will be called to account for their conduct. (Loud applause.) I say to those with objections, show me your objections and we will try to meet them. But tto c£Uinbfc.in6ofc thsin to th© extent of making the. association an absolute farce. •It seems to roe that it is perfectly idle for any man of responsibility to come here and say that it is i.ot our duty to administer these funds oil . national lines for the men of New Zealand who have fought iu the war. Tho men who charged up the steeps of Gaba Tepe who stood' shoulder tol shoulder, and fought and fell—did .they inquiro whether the men beside them came from Otago, ,or Southland, or Auckland, or Wellington, Gentlemen, you cannot carry out tho purposes of this fund unless you help us to carry out this scheme on national and clear lines. Some districts are not .represented here, but if ire can come to ah agreement we will deal with them. (Applause.) • Mr. W. P. Kirkwood (Stratford) said ithat he represented a district which had ,provided a heavy percentage of men for '.the military forces, and it might come hard on the distriot if localities with more money withheld any aid that' might, for all one knew, be needed for '.laranaki men. Taranaki representatives were mr-ch struck by the spirit of - reasonableness and compromise of the Wellington people. He did not think that anyone could stand but of: a national scheme after-hearing Mr. Skerrett's address, and he seconded the motion with pleasure. National Scheme Strongly Favoured. Mr: G. L. Dennison, Dunedin, so id that Otago favoured local administration. ■ A delegate thereupon remarked on tlie fact that Otago had not confined the a'ea from which it had drawn its funds to the limits of its province; it had sent tickets i all over the country, and taken the m:;i'ey. (Loud applause.). 1 Mr. Wesley Spragg (Auckland) said that Auckland-agreed with a great deal of the resolution, and when the time cap--© Auckland would no doubt help districts vhich needed help. Mr. C. : S. G. Cray (Timaru) said that New Zealand was the only country which had not been able to arrive ft n haliouol scheme; elsewhere local differences had been sunk. ; In Canterbury money delated for South African warriors ns still locked up unused,: though soldiers who fought in the South African Wi,r were in need in other districts. Such a possibility must be guarded, against this time. Through lack of foresight, men from the Crimea had died in poverty m England, though funds" had been provided. We did not want that here.- (Applause.) Mr. E. A. Hanson (Dann : virke) said that a recent; meeting of HawWs Bay representatives ■ nnan L-uously tiecidad ,j j tooperate as far is p'soible in a .national scheme. Hawke's Bay, would hale dine better than it had done but for the. fact that people were waiting to see exactly what was going to be decided, on. : ': Mr. J. J. Dougall (Christchuirch), said that North Canterbury was in hearty'sympathy. with a central organisation. He remarked that North Canterbury was. in a eomewhat different position from other districts inasmuch as it was already paying out money from its fur.ds by helping the dependents of soldiers who have enlisted.:' The crux of the whole scheme, as expressed in Mr. Skerrett's motion, was the subject of levies. If. the resolution was altered so that the delegates, instead of having to vote on the scheme, could vote for or against the recommendation of the scheme to their various societies, the way would be eased for several of the delegates. Personally, he'favoured the whole resolution, but was, not entirely free as to his vote, and others were in a similar, position. \ Mr. Dougall's suggestion was. accepted as an, amendment,, and voting Vi'as taken' on Mr. Skerrett's resoliicion , and Mr. Dougall's amendment. The amendment was heavily defeated. Those who voted for it were the Otago, Christchurch, and Auckland .delegates. Tho resolution was then carried without dissent, but - the Otago and Auckland delegates did not The following were appointed a committee to be'associated with Mr. Skerrett .-in arranging the details of the scheme: Messrs. J. J. Dougall (Christchurch), H. Holland (Christchurch), G. L.. Dennison (Dunedin), 'C. S. Cray (Timaru); C. J. Parr, M.P. '(Auckland), Wesley Sprngg (Auckland), L. 0. H. Tripp (Wellington), and J. P. Luke (Wellington) The opinion was expressed that it will be necessary to .hold another conference.