PATRIOTIC FUNDS PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 83, 6 October 1915, Page 2

PATRIOTIC FUNDS PROBLEM

At a conference of the New Zealand Patriotic Society held with the Mayor yesterday the question of delay in <Es- ". bursement of patriotic funds was raised. Mr. .L. O. H. Tripp outlined a plan fo. . the administration of funds now in bemt 1 and those in prospect, a way being left open for co-operation in a national scheme. The society could not very we' act as a controlling authority, but w- M the assistance and co-operation of t "^ Mayor they could organise the funds properly, and do the necessary work re, k quired. He suggested the formation < , { a society to be incorporated under thf '< provisions of the War Funds Act. He had drafted a scheme as the basis of a working arrangement, but the first step would be to call the donors together and appoint an executive committee and trustees. He had a list of names of gentlemen before him ac members of the proposed executive, but so Jar he had not consulted them, and really did not know if they were prepared to act. They were only suggested names so far, but it was* necessary to get representative men. The names were ;— Messrs. A. Macintosh, A. H, Miles, William Ferguson, a M. Luke, Sidney Kirkcaldie, H. G. Hill, C. A. Ewen, and 1 eonard Tripp. The members of the Patriotic Society would also be on the committee. It was proposed that the new society be open to the public, 5s to be the entrance to the society, and £5 entitling a person to life membership, by which action it was hoped to raise an extra sum of money. The Mayor was in accord with the proposal. He thought the money collected by himself should be incorporated in the other funds to be used for general purposes. He was quite prepared to call a public meeting, and suggested Monday week as a suitable date. He received an assurance from Mr. Tripp that the Executive Committee would have the fullest power to act, and to join in or amalgamate with any provincial or national fund. Owing to moneys being tied up here he had had to make appeals for every new thing that came along. He wanted £3000 for the hospital ship, for instance, and the money was coming in very slowly. He had met with a kin-t reception when he appealed to the same people again and again ; but the position was rather embarrassing, and should be cleared up.