DENIAL OF RUMOURS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 113, 6 February 1941, Page 5

DENIAL OF RUMOURS

Use Of Patriotic Funds

Rumours dealing with the use and administration of patriotic funds are denied in the latest circular sent out by the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council headquarters to zone secretaries.

"Il has been brought to our alien-, tion that rumours have been circulated to the effect that the Government appropriates one-quarter of the money raised for patriotic purposes, and that the cost of administering the fund was 25,per cent, of the moneys collected,'’ the circular states. “These rumours have been referred to the National Board, which comments as follows:—

" 'There is no truth whatever in the allegation that the Government retains 25 per cent, of patriotic funds for administrative expenses, or that 25 per cent, of such funds is absorbed in administrative expenses. All moneys received for patriotic purposes arcpaid either into the National Patriotic Fund or the various provincial funds, and the Government has no jurisdiction whatever in respect of the expenditure thereof. On tire other hand, the Government meets from the Consolidated Fund the cost of salaries and rent of the staff and offices of the National . Patriotic Fund Board, while the cost of railage on goods forwarded by one patriotic body to another is met from the War Expenses Account. “ Tn so far as the National Fund is concerned the cost of administration amounts to only .12 per cent, of receipts; that of the provincial councils is somewhat higher, but 1 am unable to give the exact figure at the moment pending receipt of the balance-sheets of the various councils. The position, however, is being gone into, and the question of making a public statement in regard thereto will receive consideration when definite figures are available.' “In regard to our provincial funds, our honorary treasurer states that for the 1.1 months ending September 30, 1940. the total amount of administra tive charges was £495 —or approximately 2 per cent, of the total funds handled.”