PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1917, Page 2

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

QUESTION OF CENTKALISATJON. v I

VISIT OF NATIONAL WAR FUNDS SECRETARY; ; Mb J. AA r . Kinniburgh, secretary to the National War Funds Council, and officer in charge of the War Funds Office, who is visitihnr tire various patriotic societies on < the West Coast, arrived in Greymouth last night after a. visit to Westport, where details were arranged for the Buller Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund handing over its moneys to the National War Funds Council. The Westland Patriotic Society handed over ns tunas w the Council some time hack. This morning Mr Kinninburgh met the members of The Grey Patriotic Association, and outlined the policy of the Council in administering funds handed over to it by patriotic bodies. It was pointed out that local administration would still be in the Hands of the local Executive, and that they would still do the same work a.s now, but , instead of handling their own money dir- * octly they would remit all moneys to the Council and make payments out of the Council. This plan had be§p followed by the Westland Patriotic Society for three months, and.had been found to work smoothly add satisfactorily. He did not wish to press the Grey Association to hand over its funds, but as there seemed to he some misconception us to the intention as well as the functions of the National War Council, it was just % well thev should he acquainted with the exact position The Westland district was the poorest and least able to, bear contingent liabilities with the funds in hand, or to be raised. Here, as elsewhere, it had ,b e en asked what advantage was likely to accrue to any society passing over its funds to (lie Council. The principal advantage would be that they would have the accumulated funds of the Council to fall hack on, and that the Council would be willing to assist them from its general fund. Tne amount placed to the credit of the Council’s funds by individual societies would not be received back, as the Council had built up a fund altogether npatt from moneys raised by patriotic societies, and, so far, this fund was avail-

able for any district that found' itself unable to continue relief. At.the conclusion of ihU address, several questions were askyed, and the indication given that the Grey Association were prepared to thoroughly consider the position and advise later as to its attitude. Air Kinniburgh, who also met members of the Reefton Committee yesterday, goes to Hokitika to-morrow to make the personal acquaintance of the Advisory Committee there.