PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 July 1915, Page 5

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

COMFORTS FOR SICK AND WOUDNED.

"A REMARKABLE LETTER."

rity Telegraph—Special to the Star.l AUCKLAND, This Day.

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. Jas» Allen, has written quite a remarkable letter to the Auckland Patriotic League, in which he complains that no money has been sent to him, and he cannot understand why. Auckland has contributed over £200,000 to the various funds, and the Minister desires that the lot should bo pooled with the Dominion funds generally. He writes to the Committee as follows :

"With regard to pensions, as I have already said, Parliament will be asked.to amend the law and make it more liberal, but, in addition to what may be provided by any law that may be passed, it seems to me that there is a sphere of work available for the patriotic societies, namely, to keep in touch with those to whom pensions are allotted, and in individual cases to assist them beyond what the State provides. In my own opinion this could best be done by nationalising the funds and by the establishment of local committees ,who would personally themselves keep in touch with these cases and decide as to what assistance should bo given and draw from the national fund the amounts required. "Dealing with comforts for the sick and wounded I have over and over again stated that I am prepared to receive money for the sick and wounded in Egypt, Malta, or England, and to send it to one or other of these bases as the 1 demand arose. Not any large amount of money has so far been subscribed for this purpose and sent to me as Minister for Defence, and I cannot understand why. I am getting in close touch with Egypt and England; and as close as I can with Malta, and have disked those iir authority to advise me when they need more, funds for comforts for the "sick and wounded. Money has already been sent to them, and 1 await a report as to the expenditure of it. "As to tho necessity for more to be forwarded, if the public do not supply me with any funds for this purpose' I shall very much regret it, and I desire most emphatically to say .'uit I do not think that applications fr. 1 individuals, cither clergy or anybody eise, if met by sending money to them from New Zealand can as efficiently deal with the comforts for the. sick and wounded, scattered as they are through numerous hospitals in Egypt, Malta, and in England, as can be done through the Defence Department itself. "I am aware that certain clergy "have written and asked for funds, but that is for their own particular needs, and it does not meet tho general demand. I am also aware that Lady Godley wrote for funds, probably before she knew that tho Government had decided to pay the full cost of the Convalescent Home, in Alexandria and what 'the Government is doing now. I think you, a business man, will realise that assistance is better provided through organised channels than through the medium oT several and varied individuals. "Finally, may I suggest to the Executive of your Patriotic Society that it is far wiser for them to place at the disposal of the Defence Department money for the sick and wounded than to send it private! v." What the Committee will do with the Minister's recommendation remains to ba seen.

JOINT MEETING OF SOCIETIES.

BY TSLEGBAPSI--FEa 2KESS ASSOCIATION.

WELLINGTON, June 2. At a meeting of Mayors and Chair- ♦ men of Patriotic Gommittees in Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki, held to-day there was adopted the fol» " lowing suggestion : . •'That a fund be constituted, called 'The War Relief Fund (Wellington, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki branch), for the following purposes :—(a) For the relief and benefit of New Zealand wounded soldiers and sailors, and of those in any war dependent on them; (b) for the relief and benefit of those in' any way dependent on New Zealand soldiers or sailors, who have died or may die while serving their country, either in New Zealand or else, where. The fund shall be for the. relief and benefit not only of soldiers and sailors who'were, or are, members of any New Zealand force, or of the New Zealand Navy, but also of soldiers and sailors who are either New Zealanders by birth, domicile _or adoption, and have joined or will join his Majesty's Army or Navy in any part of the world,,' and those in any way dependent on them. It is expressly declared that the fund is intended to be in augmentation of any pension or assistance which the New Zealand or English Government may grant to New Zealand soldier* or sailors, and any relief or assistance granted from the fund ought not in any way to diminish or effect the Government pension or assistance. It is declared that it is desired that a Dominion fund may hereafter be established for providing throughout tbe Dominion the relief and assistance contemplated by the Fund, and the Executive Committee shall have power to amalgamate and pay over its fund to any such Dominion organisation upon such terms and conditions as it shall think proper to require for the purpose of providing for the adequate representation of the several districts of the fund, district on the executive body administering such Dominion Fund, and for the purpose of securing tha* relief and assistance within the fund district shall thereafter be adequately administered by the executive b'"'v of the Dominion Fund. Sir John Findlay urges the need for immediate institution of a national bodv to handle relief funds, or it may be found that when the first batch of wounded arrived in a fortnight's time no one will have power to touch the funds that have been collected for their special benefit.