PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Evening Star, Issue 23818, 24 February 1941, Page 9

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

JOINT ADMINISTRATION APPROVED CONSTITUTION OF WAR SERVICES RELIEF COMMITTEE OLD AND MW ORGANISATIONS CO-ORDINATED The principle of joint administration of tho funds of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association and those of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council was approved at a meeting today in tho Council Chamber, of the Executive Committee of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, which also adopted, with slight amendment, a scheme for the constitution of a War Services Relief Committee. The meeting was attended by tho mayor (Air A. H. Allen, who was in tho chair), Messrs J. H. Don Aliller, S. P. Cameron, J. M. White, James Begg, J. L. Salniond, H. L. Paterson, Edgar Hazlett, R. A. Johnston. A. C. Laing, J. S. Douglas P. S. Anderson, S- B. Smith, A. ArHutchon, and J. J. Alarlow. A sub-committee, appointed by the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council _to draw' up a scheme for the constitution of a War Services Relief Committee, reported to the council recently that a conference had been held, when tho principle of the scheme had been approved. . Tho following resolutions, which weie adopted by the council, wore considered bv tho Executive Committee ot the association (the organisation controlling the patriotic funds raised during the last war) to-day:— (1) Tho committee shall be named tho Otago Provincial War Services Relief Committee. (2) The object of the committee shall be to co-ordinate and control tho granting of relief from tho funds of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council and tho Otago Patriotic and General n el£are Association (hereafter referred to as tho parent organisations), in accordance with the regulations and/or rules governing both bodies. . (3) The committee shall consist or four Dunedin representatives elected annually iu tho month of 1 ■ by each pafrent organisation, and one representative elected annually in the month of by each of the country zone controlling committees of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council. (4) The chairman of the committee shall be elected annually at tho first meeting following tho appointment or its members. . (5) The committee shall appoint its own secretary. . (6) The committee shall administer jointly the funds granted to it by the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council and tho Otago Patriotic and General AVelfaro Association. (7) Separate accounts shall be kept by the committee of tho expenditure incurred on behalf of each organisation, (8) The funds for both accounts shall be provided by advances which may be made from time to time on application to the respective parent organisations as demands for expenditure necessitate. (9) The hooks and accounts of the committee shall close annually on - , and a report and audited statement of accounts in accordance with clause (7) hereof shall be submitted to each parent organisation and presented for adoption at tho annual meeting of the committee. ,

(10) The question of the apportionment of administration expenses between the two parent organisations shall be referred to the Relief Committee, who shall, after its appointment, submit proposals in this connection to the two parent organisations for their approval. (11) The establishment of relief advisory sub-committees by the country zone controlling committees of the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council and the election of its representative on the Provincial Relief Committee shall be left to each Zone Controlling Committee to provide for. (12) Authority to grant urgent relief through imprest accounts shall be granted to each Zone Committee. (13) The Otago Provincial Patriotic Council executive retains the right to amend or annul any clause in this agreement. OBJECT OF PROPOSALS. Mr J. L. Salmond said that the chief object of the proposals would be the saving of expense by having one office to administer both funds as far as the relief portion was concerned. A special committee had sat for some time and had drawn up suggestions, which had been thoroughly considered and were now submitted to the association. He thought it should be made quite clear that neither organisation would lose its identity. If the scheme were found unsatisfactory after a year of trial, they could revert to the old method of organisation if they desired. PRINCIPLE APPROVED. Air Begg moved that the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association approve of the principle of joint administration of the funds of the two organisations under conditions to be determined upon. Mr M'Hutehon seconded the motion, which was carried.

While expressing keen appreciation of the work that had been done by the sub-committee that had drawn, up the proposals that were now being considered, Mr Allen said that he was not wholly in agreement with the commitee’s recommendations. What they all desired was to have the work done efficiently and by the one set of officers, and his suggestion was that each organisation should have its work done by the one secretary in the one office. The secretary would know the needs of both organisations, and if this wore brought about the work of the two organisations would be done simultaneously and the cost would be reduced. The two organisations could be operated as separate departments under the one executive, the costs being shared proportionately. Ultimately the work of the Otago Patriotic and Genora'l Welfare Association would cease altogether. and the new organisation would then bear the total cost. The suggestions he had made would save interference with the constitution and would make for greater harmony. Mr Salmond said he thought the mayor’s remarks were answered by the proposals that were being submitted. These did not have the intention of disturbing the existing constitution of either organisation. Mr Anderson said he thought definitely that the rules of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association would have to ho_ altered if the funds were to be administered by a joint committee, since this would mean in effect that their funds in part would be administered by some who worc.not members of that association. Some discussion on this aspect ensued, and Air P. A. Johnston said he thought it more than possible they

would have to alter the rules of the old association. Mr White said that if the proposals submitted could be adopted, they could be referred to some legal authority later if necessary. CLAUSES CONSIDERED. The meeting: then considered tho proposals clause by clause, those being; adopted, with the exception of clauses 10 and 13. The former was amended by the addition of the words “ and thereafter annually ” before the word “.submit.” the clause finally reading; “Tho question of tho apportionment of administration expenses between tho two parent organisations shall bo referred to the Relief Committee, who shall, after its appointment, and thereafter annually, submit proposals in this connection to the two parent organisations for their approval.” Clause 13 was substituted by the adoption of the following“ Either parent body may withdraw from this arrangement if it proves unsatisfactory, and the combined parent bodies may amend any danse with the exception of the clauses relating to country zones.”

Anything further arising from the report was left in the hands of Messrs J. L. Sahnond, P. S. Anderson, and A. C. Laing to deal with. Air Hazlett expressed the association's indebtedness to Air Sahnond for the splendid work he had done on the present association in connection with the proposals that had been submitted.