PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 105, 31 October 1939, Page 11

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

NO STATE CONTROL

EFFECT OF REGULATIONS

POSITION OUTLINED

(Special to tho "Evening Post.")

MASTERTON, This Day.

Emphasising that there was no Government control of patriotic funds, Mr. T. Jordan, Mayor of .Mastertdn and chairman of the National Advisory Council, in a statement to the Press indicated the scope and effect of the regulations governing patriotic funds in New Zealand.

"The regulations." said Mr. Jordan,

"have been drawn up with great care,, and if they are given a wide and sympathetic interpretation, they should enable us to build up a vrry -fflciont system of administration end sscure the maximum benefit for the men whom they are intended to bsoeflt. "The regulations have been drawn up in the light of the experience gained during the last war and are designed to prevent waste and overlapping, so that the maximum benefit may be obtained for the men of the services from all funds raised. There are indications, too. that the amount of money available for this purpose will not be so great, and this is an added reason, why as little as possible should be dissipated. Great care will be necessary to see that this delicate plant calleds public generosity is not injured or offended. There are many signs of misunderstanding in the community regarding these regulations. It has been stated. that the Government will be spending all the money, that patriotism is being regimented, and that no use is being made of the existing patriotic societies and their great experience of war funds.

AUTONOMOUS CONTROL

"First of all there is no Government control of patriotic funds. The regulations contemplate the setting up of a National Fund and eleven provincial funds. The National' Fund.is. controlled and administered by a board of men chosen for. their great experience already gained with such funds, and they are completely autonomous. Each of the provincial funds is controlled and administered by a provincial council, which is comprised of representatives of local bodies in the district. Each of these councils is thus completely autonomous-, also. A provincial: council lias sole power to specify the approved patriotic purpose for which money or goods shall be received, expended, or distributed.

'•Secondly, .there is no provision in the regulations requiring money raised by the provincial councils or any portion of them to be sent to Wellington to the National Fund. All money raised for the National Fund by national collections will, of course, be lodged with the National Board. Money raised by the provincial councils, 'or by collectors appointed by them, will go to their respective funds. There is permission for the setting up by provincial councils of separate accounts for special approved purposes, and in such cases any money credited to any such separate account shall be expended only for such special purpose. A provincial council has permission to appoint any person or.'body to act as its agent in-expending or. applying the mbney forming part of its funds. All accounts are subject to strict, credit, either by the Audit Office or by an auditor appointed for the purpose by the Audit Office. ,

APPROVED PURPOSES.

"The Minister is empowered to notify in the Gazette what is an approved patriotic purpose. This notification may be limited to any fund or funds. There is permission for -a-, provincial council to apply to the Minister for his approval of a patriotic purpose that is not covered by the Minister's notification in the Gazette, and he may impose conditions on his approval. The only patriotic . purpose so far gazetted is the supply of comforts, conveniences, and special equipment to members of his Majesty's New Zealand forces and to New Zealand members of any other of his Majesty's forces. The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, exempt any patriotic purpose 7 from the application of these regulations or declare any purpose specified in such notice not to be a patriotic purpose under these regulations. In exercise of' his power to grant exemptions, the Minister has already exempted from these regulations: .

(a) The raising of funds by or with the authority of the Mayor or chairman of a local authority for the purpose of making gifts to residents proceeding on service or returning therefrom. ...

(b) The holding of any function or entertainment in honour of any member or members of the forces arranged by any person or' body of persons approved by the chairman of a provincial council or the controlling committee of the district..

(c) The .carrying on of the spiritual work and ministration of any religious denomination amongst members of the forces, so far as such funds are raised by collections made and sought exclusively from the members and adherents of that denomination.

"The Minister has authority to dele■rite this power to grant exemption to auy provincial council or controlling ruthority, but in the opinion of the idvisory Council this delegation should be avoided unless exercised after reference to the council itself. It might lead to lack of uniformity.

AUTHORISED COLLECTORS

"No person may raise money or take up collections of money or goods for any patriotic purpose unless such purpose is an approved purpose and such person is an authorised collector. The regulations provide a heavy penalty for breaches of these regulations. For the National Fund the Minister may appoint any person, society, or organisation to be an authorised collector. He has already appointed the Salvation Army such a collector. Without any such formal appointment, Mayors, county chairmen, proprietors of registered newspapers, trading and savings banks, and postmasters are1 deemed to be authorised collectors for the national fund. Formal application in writing must be made in other cases. For provincial funds, the appointment of authorised collectors is made by a provincial council, but the council has power to delegate its authority to the chairman of the council or to the chairman of a zone committee who may, in his turn, delegate to the mayor or chairman of any local authority in respect of his particular district. Each Collector will be provided with an authority under the hand of the provincial council, appointing him, so that the public may be satisfied with his bona ' fides and with the ' special receipt books."