THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2453, 22 September 1914, Page 3

THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

MR MASSEY AND THE FUNDS Wellington, September 21.

A deputation, comprising representatives of a number of district Patriotic Fund Committees, headed by Mi* J. A. Nash, Mayor of Palmerston, waited on the Prime Minister. Included in the deputation was Dr Willis, of Feilding. The deputation submitted a series of resolutions which had been agreed, to by delegates, to the effect that a Dominion Civdian Fund be established for the case of our soldiers at Home, that the Government subsidise it £ for £ from moneys already paid in by the Patriotic Committees, that a first call of 10s per man be made over the whole Dominion, and that a civilian be appointed to administer the fund.

The Prime Minister said that the I Government had already given th 6 j matter some consideration, but had not arrived at any definite conclusion upon it. They fully realised, however, that something must be done in the direction suggested. They had thought of instructing the High Commissioner to detail as many officials of his staff as might be necessary to look after those matters the deputation had in mind. W 7 ith regard to the finance of the proposal, he was not sure that the Government could use any of the moneys in the Patriotic Fund for this purpose, because that money had been subscribed for the equipment of tlie Force. He would like to consult with his colleagues and with General Godley en the proposal, but the deputation could b© assured that the Government were fully alive to the necessity of appointing someone, and the appointee a civilian, to look after tih© interestf* of the men at Home.