WAR RELIEF & PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2758, 29 April 1916, Page 13

WAR RELIEF & PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES

REPRESENTATION ON DISBURSING BODY. LETTER FROM THE MINISTER. v All those who subscribed to the funds uoiv being administered by the War Relief Association will be interested in a letter which the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. AY. Russell) has forwarded to the War Relief Association of AVeUington, the.body which lias been formed to administer the patriotic funds—or the greater proportion of the same—in AVeUington. The letter roads as follows: — '"'Dear Sir,—With reference to your interview with me recently regarding the incorporation of the AVeUington" Patriotic Society, I have the honour to inform you that I have since bad an interview with Mr. T. M. Wilford. M.P., and Mr. J. Lewis, chairman and secretary o ftho above-mentioned society. I have explained to them my strong objection to having two societies in this city incorporated and administering war relief. They are prepared' to take up a reasonable attitude, and it is my earnest desire that arrangements should be made by which the two societies should work as one. Briefly, their proposals are as follows: "(1) That the Wellington Patriotic Society should continue as a society for the raising of further moneys for the of soldiers of the Empire. "(2) That your executive should be enlarged, so as to give that society a total representation, including members already upon your executive, equal to tho remaining members of your execuive, leaving with your section of the combined executive the chairmanship and the right of a casting vote. "(3) That the objects of your society bo enlarged so that assistance may be given if necessary, not only to returned soldiers, but also to soldiers in camp and to the dependants of men who desire* to enlist.

i. "On the whole these-objects appeal to my sense of justice as fair. I understand tho Patriotic Society has raised a very .large portion'of the moneys which you are administering. Further, that they have now a sum of £13,000 in hand, and are about to establish another campaign which they consider will realise a probable sum of £20,01)0. A body which is thus actively engaged in raising funds, it appears to me, has a strong claim for a greater measure of representation on your oxecutive than they possess at tho present time. I unaerstand that the numbers at present are lour members of tlie .Patriotic Socie% on your executive out of a total of nfteen.

'"•"THth regard to the ' extension of the objects of the fund, I think this will also appeal to you. My opinion has been right through that the patriotic societies should have a very wide scope, and that the limitation of their spheres ■of usefulness is a mistake, provided that the money is judiciously expended in assisting tho Dominion to provido men and to assist the dependants of them, thus providing for dependants as well as for the'soldiers themselves in every way that is practical and will be useful.

"I should be glad to discuss the matter further with your executive on my return from the south, and, sincerely I hope that we niay be able to set up a modus -vivendi which will prevent any such thing as two societies working side by side in the same city for practically similar purposes. I would like to add that I think there will be no difficulty in arranging such a union of the two organisations as will be for the good of the soldjors and their dependants, which, I am sure, we all desire." In connection with the above 'letter, which presumably will engage tho attention of the exeeutivo at its next meeting, there are . two points that perhaps need elucidating. The reference to a new campaign by tho Minister refers to a big art union that the Patriotic Society.is at present arranging, and which, they believe will be the biggest thing of its kind yet held in the Dominion. Secondly, the Minister is hardly clear oil the point that tho .two bodies have at present entualy dit* similar functions, Jlr. Wilford, M.P., having explained, at the last meeting of the society that the functions of the two societies are entirely different, tHfe Patriotic Society being purely a col-, lecting body and the War Belief Association the disbursing body. Now and again the Patriotic Society has raised funds for a special purpose, and disbursed same, as in the case of the purchase of periscopes, glasses, etc., for the troops, out in the main their work has been to raise money for the wounded soldiers and sailors and their dependants, which money (over £70,000) the War Relief -Association is now administering.