FRENCH FUND DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 140, 13 June 1918, Page 8

FRENCH FUND DISPUTE

PREPARATIONS FOR FIGHT

QUESTIONS FOR MINISTERS.

Those citizens who wish to raise money for the help of the French Red Cross and orphanages or similar institutions for French soldiers' children, as a tribute of New Zealand's gratitude to the heroic valour of France, have determined to press Ministers to give specific reasons for their attitude of antagonism. Captain Barclay has given an opinion, that the Ministerial hostility to the proposal is "an insult to the French Republic." Active sympathisers with France will request the Government to state definitely how far it intends trying to check an enterprise which is based on a heartfelt appreciation of the splendid record of France in the war. The Ministerial discouragement is denounced as an intolerable interference.

The statement of Captain Barclay that a clique had been at work among Ministers'of the Crown to thwart the project for France wae mentioned to-day by a Post representative to Mr. W. S, Moorhouse, chairman of the New Zealand Red Cross executive. He replied that he had no personal knowledge of any euch intrigue.

No appeal (continued Mr. Moorhouse) had been received from the French Red Cross Society. In his belief it wae New Zealand's duty to act in accordance with the recommendations of the British authorities. The Dominion's first duty was to provide sufficient funds for the Red Cross needs of this country's soldiers overseas. Then, any surplus should be transferred to the British Society, which could help the French Society to the utmost extent, in case of need. The scope of the British Red Cross extended to the Allies of Great Britain. For example, Great Britain provided complete Red Cross equipment, including doctors and nurses, for Servia. There could be no question about the feeling of gratitude to France—a, feeling which had been expressed by Great Britain and the Dominions with men, materials, and money.

In the view of Mr. Moorhouse, the same principle applied to money as to men. New Zealand's soldiers, destined to fight in France, were first sent to England. They were at the disposal of the Imperial authorities, to be used in the best possible manner for war work. The majority went to France. Similarly, the bulk of the British Red Cross funds wae spent in France.