PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2692, 11 February 1916, Page 6

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY

The Prime Minister the Right Hon. W. J?. Massey, made the following statement yesterday regarding the attitude of the' Government towards the various societies administering patriotic funds:

"An impression seems to have got about that the Government wants to get possession .of the patriotic funds and use them for Government purposes. Lot me say ■ the Government have no' such intention, though I am bound to say also that I think the Minister of Internal Affairs was justified in giving the Auckland Committee an opportunity of assisting in tho equipment of the Soldiers! Convalescent Home at Rotorua in their own district. The Auckland Committee declined to do so, and on that point there is nothing more to be said.

"It is, however, the duty of the Government to see that such funds are used for the purpose for which they were collected, that is, for assisting sick and wounded soldiers and their dependants, or the dependants of those who have fallen,. So long as the different associations.";usc their funds in accordance with the Act of last session and the desire of the contributors—without parsimony on the one side, or waste on-the other, the»e will be no interference on the part of the Government.

"The Government will do its full duty to the soldiers out of the public funds under its own control, but there is 110 reason why the Government and the patriotic associations should not work together each in its own way, for the benefit of the Umpire's defenders."