PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16922, 30 July 1915, Page 3

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

COMBINED ACTION TAKEN

RESULTS OF WELLINGTON CON

FEHENCE.

Mr Cyrus J. R. Williams, secretary of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, one ot the Christchtirch delegates to the conference of Patriotic Fund' Committees in Wellington, reports that the conference has done admirable work. It has ; approved a scheme of combined action J which is regarded as both practical and I efficient, and likely to meet the requirements not only while the public an eager and enthusiastic, but also for the I next forty years, when the war will be I viewed with the coolness of a past event. Mr Williams attributes the success of the conference largely to the skill with which Mr C P. Skenett, K.C., drafted the scheme, and to that gentleman's conci.iatory manner while the conference was sitting. The suggestions originally were prepared by Mi Cray, of Timaru, Mr Totswill, of Christchurch, and Mr Hill, of Wellington, and' wore taken in hand by Mr bkerrett, who welded them into a complete scheme. The conference decided to establish an association, to regulate the admin is tration of the war funds collected by local organisations. Each organisation or branch will send delegates to a central executive committee. The branches will have practically the same powers as those exorcised now by the Patriotic Committees, but they will not be allowed to give a lump sum of more than £ICO without the permission of the Executive Committee. Tin's is to prevent a branch from voting all its funds in lump sums in the way of annuities or otherwise, and so depleting its funds. There will be an annual conference and other conferences if necessary. Each branch will send nt least one delegate; a branch with over £20,000 two delegates, with over £50,000 threo delegates. Each delegate will havo one vote. The conference will elect the Executive Committee, which has the controlling powers just stated. This committee will consist of at. least tivo members of some branch or branches in each military district in the dominion . Provision is* made for two or more branches working together. The Executive Committee, in addition to exercising a general control, will be a kind of Arbitration Court, to decide disputes between the branches, but all the administration work will be done by the branches. An important provision, upon which the broad basis of the scheme rests, is that if one fund becomes depleted by extraordinary demands or by the district sending an abnormally large number of men to the front or having an exceptionally large casualty list, the Executive Committee may make a levy, on behalf of that branch, on other branches. This makes it imposs'ble for wounded soldiers from any district to be stranded, and gives the scheme a distinctly national character. Each branch must report to the Executive Committee every three months The const'tution of the association nwi be amended at tho annual conference, but only by a majority of at least two-thirds. The objects of the branche are defined as being "for the relief and benefit of New Zealand wcunded incapacitated, or necessitous soldiers or sailors and those in any way depend ent upon them." This definition allows Now Zcalanders in all branches of the Empire's forces to share in the funds. A branch may establish and maintain an Employment Bureau for returned soldiers and sailors; it may subs'dise any hospital or charitable aid institution in wheh wounded men may be mantained, and, generally, take any steps to promote the welfare of those for whom the fund js intended.

A suggestion was made that the funds should be pooled in a large national fund. The delegates could not support that proposal, and it was abandoned, as it was felt that the incentive of sympathy and personal interest would be eliminated and that it was not desirable to have the administration in the hands of a small committee in Wellington, which would not be familiar with local Conditions. At first the delegates were somewhat taken by surpr se. They had not had an outline of the scheme, and, consequently, were not able to consider details. In order to gain time, Mr Williams moved that branches should be established before the association was formed. There was no hope of the motion be ng passed, but a general discussion took place, and delegates then became well acquainted with tho proposals. One of the difficulties waa that the scheme as drafted would have prevented the branches from helping any soldier or his family unless he was wounded, but it was altered in order to give the branches a wider field of or>: rat ions.. "The proposals adopted by the conference will be submitted to the Patriotic Fund Committee shortly.