Patriotic Funds

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 9

Patriotic Funds

Sir, —The papers report that a conference is to be held next Thursday, when a proposal to discontinue national appeals for patriotic funds will be considered. It will be remembered that one of the main reasons for the existence of the Patriotic Purposes Regulations was that the soldier should be recognized as fighting for the nation, not for a province. That be enlisted as a New Zealander and not us an Otagoite, etc. Certain organizations were authorized to collect funds for New Zealanders. The new proposal, it would appear, is that this authority should be withdrawn, and that the provincial patriotic councils, who have not now the authority of the regulations to collect any funds whatsoever, should be entrusted as collectors for both national and provincial purposes. Anyone who has past experience in the collection and expenditure of patriotic funds must have recognized the ability and wisdom of those who drew up the regulations, and the courtesy and understanding of the officers who have had the difficult responsibility of introducing and administering them. Any difficulty that has arisen has been the result of the failure of the national board to insist on the regulations being observed. The board has had its “munichs” when dealing with the provincial councils and certain religious bodies. Recently Otago refused to allow collections to be made for the needs of the New Zealand fighting forces till it had made some provision for the Otago returned soldier. The other parts of the Dominion had to take the responsibility of raising funds for the Otago soldiers in camps and overseas. The proceedings will be watched with interest by those who wonder whether appeasement is still a British cardinal virtue. I have not the confidence of members of the board or councils, and am therefore not in a position to know the reasons for the proposal, but one vital factor must obtain. No war profiteering should be allowed, be it commercial, society, religious or provincial. —I am, etc., KOPUTAI. Wellington, May 11,