LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Evening Star, Issue 23744, 27 November 1940, Page 6

LEAGUE OF NATIONS

POLITICAL OR CHARITABLE ? TRUSTEES OF ESTATE RAISE OUESTION An action relating to the will of the late Howitt Key Wilkinson was begun before the Hon. .Mr Justice Kennedy in tho Supreme Court this morning. Legal argument as ,to whether the League of Nations Union of New Zealand 1 was a charity was the main bone of contention, it being particularly stressed by counsel for the Commissioner of Stamps that the union -was a political body. * „ , Air F. B. Adams appeared 1 for the plaintiffs, the Perpetual Trustees. Estate, and Agencv Company; Air Ti. APCormick. of Wellington, for the Leaggp of Nations Union of New Zealand; Air J. M. Paterson for the Commissioner of Stamp Duties; Air J. S. Sinclair for the widow, children, grandchildren, and the unhorn children; and Air H. L. Cook for the Y.AI.C.A., Y.W.C.A.. Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the • Boy Scouts’ Association, Neiv Zealand section, and the Dominion of New Zealand branch of the Girl Guides’ Association. There was a formidable array of over 70 books on the table before counsel. Air Adams explained' that, in the/ case of the gifts to the associations for whom Air Cook appeared these were for the general purposes of charity, hut in the case of tho gift to the Presbyterian Church this was for Bible class work. Air Adams went on to say that the question concerning the institutions named in the will had been raised as a precautionary measure. The plaintiff trustee did not entertain any doubt as to the charitable nature of these institutions, with tho exception of the League of Nations Union. It was, nevertheless, desired that the point should be formally decided by the court. The League of Nations, Air Adams said, was in a different position, and he stressed tho fact that the question of the validity of this particular gift bad not been raised by. or at the instigation of, the members of the deceased’s family. As regards the League of Nations Union, counsel did not intend to enter on the question of charity or no charity beyond saying that the organisation was one which appeared to have some sort of political colour, if not of an internal nature at least of ap international kind. It appeared alto to be largely an organisation for propaganda, and there was some authority to show that it was a political and not a charitable organisation.

Mr Paterson then proceeded to argue the point from the point of view of the Commissioner of Stamps, (Proceeding.)