NO STATE CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 34, 9 February 1940, Page 8

NO STATE CONTROL

PATRIOTIC FUNDS ,

NATIONAL BOARD DEFENDED

LOW OVERHEAD COSTS

Speaking at the V.M.C.A 'Optimists? Club luncheon yesterday, Mr. R. H. Nimmo, president of the. .Wellington V.M.C.A. and chairman ■of the standing committee of the National Patriotitt ; Council, dealt trenchantly with critic i cisms, which, he said, were - being levelled from time to time by, ■ misguided and ill-informed peopie that" the Government was exercising control over the funds contributed by th« public for national patriotic purposes. Mr. Nimmb' stated that; as chairman of. the standing committee of : the council, there was no evidence of any interference or suggestion of; any' ihterference or control oh the part of ' the Government.. .'.-..; ..:•. ;...

The National Patriotic Fund- Board and its advisory body, the National Patriotic Council, said Mr. Nimmo, were autonomous bodies and as such had full power and control,. not only over the methods of raising funds, but also over the expenditure of the funds. He expressed amazement that, in vie.vr of the widespread Press publicity and the information given.again and again over the air by responsible citizens* including his Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, and also in a time of such grave national crisis, especially when we owed so^ much to our young manhood who were prepared, if necessary, to pay .the supreme sacrifice in defence of the country, there should be people who persisted in rendering such great disservice. If that jdisservice was due to" ignorance, then it was the bounden duty of every citizen to familiarise, himself forthwith with the action of the Government in setting up the National Patriotic Board, which, he said, was one of the most constructive and effective measures that had been carried out by the present Government. A * LAIN DUTYI "It is not only the plain duty of th« people to co-operate in all matters appertaining to the successful prosecu^ tion of the war,", said Mr. Nimmo, "hut I. also suggest to; the public of New Zealand that it is their plain'duty, t© inform people of the true position in relation to patriotic funds." Mr. Nimmo called upon the wholehearted co-operation •of the' members of the Y:M.C.A. to get behind the campaign of the V.M.C.A. and Salvation Army to raise £100,000 nationally, the money to be handed to the National Patriotic Fund Board, and expended solely for the troops* in New Zealand and overseas. > • ■:■■;'. As a member of the national council of the V.M.C.A., as president of the V.M.C.A:, and also in his capacity of vice-president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Nimmo-stated that in his opinion the efficiency displayed and the control 'exercised' over the funds administered by the National Patriotic Fund Board left nothing ■t* be desired, and organisations such >'af the V.M.C.A., which always filled key positions in time of war, werenreceiV"? ing from the board'all the funds necessary for the conduct of their war work, not only in New Zealand but also overseas; At the same time the public, could be assured that all applications for funds on behalf of various "bodies were carefully reviewed by the aboard before expenditure was authorised, thereby ensuring a maximum-return with very low overhead expenditure. "ENORMOUS SAVINGS." ' That was one point' about!which very little had been heard, < continued Mr. Nimmo. Enormous savings were being made in, overhead by the centralised control -of funds. This rendered ■. a great; service to the public by ensuring that the funds contributed by the. public in- a spirit of patriotism were expended'in New Zealand and overseas with a small margin of overhead. He ventured to predict that when the final story was told of the work of the Patriotic Fund Board during the war the public would realise what a debt of gratitude it owed to the Government for its foresight in setting up this body. _ ■

Mr. Nimmo concluded his addressi with, an announcement that figures which had just been released showed that over 10 per cent., of' the eligible manhood of the Wellington. YJV!LC:A. had either gone overseas on service or had volunteered for active service. announcement was- received, with, prolonged applause and with the greatest enthusiasm. ,' .' •