The Gisborne Times. PUBUSHED DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1918.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4964, 3 September 1918, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBUSHED DAILY. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1918.

The public will be deeply interested in the result of the special meetdug that was held last night by the Citizens’ Defence Committee to consider an important proposal that at least portion of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund should be put to some practical use. It will be noted from the report of the meeting that there was almost unanimity on the point that steps should be taken to enable returned soldiers who are desirous of going into business or of taking up land to secure monetary assistance out of. the moneys in the hands of the Committee. What has been recommended is that £IO,OOO. or about, one-third of the total fund, should he utilised in the manner that has been indicated. As far as we can gather the main opposition that was manifested was not against the principle of utilising a portion of the moneys in hand, hut in the nature of a suggestion that, before anything is done, the Advisory Board in connection with the various district patriotic societies should be invited to propound a uniform scheme for the whole of the Dominion. It may, of course, turn out that, before the local Defence Committee has completed its scheme the Advisory Board may again go into the matter. If sp, so much the better, for it would he much, more satisfactory if a uniform scheme were propounded and agreed to by.

A Complex and Difficult problem.

ill the patriotic societies. The pro)lena which confronts the local Deence Committee and, likewise all ,ther Bimilar institutions, is assui>dlv both complex and difficult and, in less the administration of such runds is carried out on sound ines, there will be no end of vexatious trouble. We may say that this journal quite appreciates the value ;)[' the point that was brought forward in the amendment, which was, in effect, that first of all the matter should he brought before the Advisory Board in the form of a remit. There is, however, a potential danger in regard to adopting this particular course. it is known that I the Government would prefer the t “pooling” of all such funds and for aught one knows the Advisory Board might so frame its recommendations that the Government might affect that it had no alternative but to insist upon such a measure being adopted. What might be urged in support of the amalgamation of the funds and of the system of centralisation of administration might be i the fact that various societies seem- j ed to he in a quandary and were j simply adopting the policy of “Wait and See.”' There can be no question but that the time has arrived when at least a portion of the moneys in the hands of the local committee should he put to the use that wag intended by the subscribers. To suggest that it would be time enough to go into the problem when the war ends is futile. Many of this district’s soldiers have, as is well known, returned home, and a, e awaiting monetary assistance to enable them to re-establish themselves in civilian life. It has no doubt been a mistaken policy on the part ! of patriotic societies to have collect!ed funds for such a purpose: the granting of aid for other than temporary relief should have been a matter that should have concerned the Government and the Government alone. As things now stand, however, the local Defence Committee and similar institutions must make the best of an awkward situation. There is, of course, a wellfounded objection to the “pooling” of all such funds, for under such a system districts which had subscribed niggardly would gain at the ex-* pen sc of other districts such as Poverty Bay. where a most generous response has been made to the appeal for funds to assist returned soldiers. It may perhaps he suggested that it would not- matter if the whole of such funds were “pooled” seeing that none but returned soldiers would benefit. We may say in this regard that we feel that it was intended by subscribers to the local fund that the moneys should he utilised within tlie district and that it was hoped that the fund would be the means of enabling as many as possible of this district’s soldier lads to he re-settled in this district. It was suggested at last night's meeting that it was not likely that the fund would grow to any appreciable extent. That will depend on whether the moneys in hand are used wisely. But at any rate that particular argument happens to he beside the point. In time the Government will have to adopt a national scheme dealing with this important matter. What has now to be considered is simply this : a large sum of money is in the hands of the Defence Committee and it is imperative that at least a portion should he utilised straightaway. Have some members of the Committee overlooked the important fact that the existence of this particular fund assisted in the matter or gaining recruits when tlie voluntary system was in vogue." Tue decision at last night’s meeting to recommend that only a third of tlie fund he dealt with in the meantime was satisfactory in that it will afford time to enable a sound system of utilisation ,to he worked up. When all tilings are considered —and particularly in view of the apathy of the Government there is no reason at all why Poverty Bay should not lead the way in regard to this important matter.