REPATRIATION.

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 40, 16 August 1916, Page 2

REPATRIATION.

i At present the appeal to the public for contributions to war funds is primarily in relation 'to the fund for the repatriation of. returned soldiers. The State and Federal Governments are cooperating in a scheme for encouraging returned soldiers to go upon ithe land. The -State Governments have undertaken to make land available on the' easiest possible terms, anil the Federal Government has undertaken a- considerable responsibility in ithe matter of monetary advance against improvements. But it is fek that to make the | whole schema the success which is desired substantial subscriptions by the public are needed. Official statements show that out of a-11 the cards already sent in 45y soldiers to indicate their wishes in the matter of employment more than 25 per cent- state that they desire to go on the land. Of those who desire this, nearly. 70 per cent, have had land experience. Some handsome contributions are already announced. In Melbonrne, Messrs. Bailleau have agreed to contribute during twelve months the sum of £20.000. This has been matched in Sydney by a promise of £10,000 on behalf of the firm of Anthony Hordern and Sons, and contributions of £5000 each by two members of the proprietary, making another £20,000. SUBJECT TO VETO. In the present period of "war stress appeals on a big scale for public contributions must, like proposals for the formation of companies, receive the sanction of the Commonwealth or of State War Councils acting under Commonwealth authority. This fact was brought under the notice of the Salvation Army in connection with an appeal to the public by the Salvation Army for £50,000 for "the declared purposes of providing comforts for soldiers, and to establish in the various States homes where the orphans of soldiers , could be provided for. A good deal of money had already been gathered in or promised, when it was made known that the State War Council of Victoria, whose authority had not been obtained, hod decided to withhold its sanction, without which the appeal could not legitimately proceed. The Salvation Army people in the ensuing negotiations admitted having inadvertently overlooked the obligation to get the authority of the War Council, but ultimately succeeded in obtaining sanction for an amendment of their scheme by making the appeal specifically one for the setting up of homes for the orphans of Australian soldiers.