PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Evening Star, Issue 23503, 17 February 1940, Page 8

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

POWERS OF PROVINCIAL COUNCILS PROVISION FOR FUTURE REQUIREMENTS PRONOUNCEMENT BY THE MINISTER An important pronouncement on the functions and powers of provincial patriotic councils has been conveyed to the mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) in a telegram just received from the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W, E. Parry), the effect of which is that the regulations empower provincial patriotic councils to provide for future quirementsSome time ago the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council decided on a canvass of business firms for the purpose of raising funds to provide comforts to meet the needs of the men in various camps throughout the Dominion and on troopships. The mayor (Mr A. H. Allen), who is chairman of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council, informed the ‘ Star ’ to-day that these solicitations had been delayed, as the executive of the Provincial Patriotic Council considered that it should, also have the right to build up a fund to meet the needs of Otago men on their return fromthe war, when, due to sickness or wounds, they and their dependents might require their military pe.nskms supplemented, as was done during the Great War, and up to the present time. ■ Mr Allen stated that on February 8, Otago’s, views were set out in a letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. W. E. Parry), who has now replied by telegram as follows;—“ Con-* sider regulation 22, clause 2, of the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations gives your Patriotic Council power to provide for future requirements. The gazetting of amendment to the regulations will be referred to the National Council. Urgent need appears to me to be for the provision of comforts overseas.” The regulation in question states: “ The fund shall be a common fund to meet the requirements as they arise of all purposes being, from time to time, approved purposes within the meaning of these regulations.” The Mayor added that in consequence of Mr Parry’s telegram the executive of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council will immediately commence its canvass amongst the business organisations with a view to obtaining funds for the benefit of the men in camp and on the troopships, and also - towards building up a fund for the benefit of the men of Otago on their return from the war. Mr Allen said that it should ho emphasised that the expenditure of contributions for these purposes would be completely under the control of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council.