PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 114, 10 November 1917, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

10 THE EDITOR. Sir,—l do not know air. Val. Atkinson, except as a worker in the various I Patriotic efforts in which he has taken part but I (with doubtless many more of the community) am thinking he is to be commended for the fitand he took at the meeting of the War Funds Collections Committee, held on Tuesday ■ last, m connection with the "Our Day" campaign. At this meeting the balance- I sheet was adopted; but the general pub- I lie knows nothing of its nature. I have | seen it, however, and purpose presently ' to give four .of the items of "expend/- ! ! ture, to be deducted from the "in&me " I lie ingenuous public 1 who give to the different patriotic societies' money-get-i >mg "stunts" are more or lees hazy as to -the modus operandi of that body and as long as this state of affaire exists, so long will hundreds refrain from giving as heartily of their money, goode,. and time as they otherwise would. ■•Now, Sir, here are four of the items of expenditure for the "Our Day" passed by jhe. War Funds Collecting Committee : —Honorarium to secretary and treasurer, £84. Very.good. "The labourer is worthy of his hire," of course, I though the sum seems a liberal one ' enough for a "patriotic" official; yet there is another sum of £28 17s 6d passed for payment to the "assistant to the 1 secretary" as "salary." Mr. YaJ. Atkin- I son said he opined that no one working j for patriotic affairs should be "paid" out of the moneys subscribed. Some of the War Funds Collection Committee eeem to .think very otherwise, however. Another item is £31 4s for -'refreshments and accommodation of bandsmen and Boy Scouts, etc." Looks as if the bandsmen, Boy Scouts, and others were right royally entertained by the patriotic officials. £37 16s is stated' to have been expended in the "purchase of collection boxes." Surely the boxes used on the previous occasions were not all "done m," and the majority, if not all, of them could have been used again on the day in question. The secretary at the meeting remidiated all desire to I""'* !"•* part of the honorarium. As the balancesheet, as submitted, was adopted, what is the position? Surely the public who subscribe. to the funds are entitled to know.—l am', etc., o>iE OF 'EM..