BELGIAN FUND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 17038, 13 December 1915, Page 3

BELGIAN FUND.

fAXTERBURY'S SHARE. 90X G. W. RUSSELL'S APPEAL. 'A meeting of representatives of local * bodies liable for'contributions to the Belgian Relief Fund, convened by the Minister of Internal Affairs at the re♦piest of the Belgian Fund Executive, <ras held at the rooms of the Canter'bury Agricultural and Pastoral Association on Saturday. The Minister (the iH«n> 6. W. Russell) presided', and there 'iras an attendance of about twenty of local bodies. The Minister, in opening the meeting, •hanked the representatives for accepting his invitation to attend a conference to discuss the future of the fund. Up to the present Canterbury had done magnificent work for the fund, and he desired to pay a tribute to the work cf the executive and of the contributing local bodies. In all, up to June 30, 1916, £1,120,000 had been collected throughout the world for Belgian relief. New Zealand came fourth on tho list, the principal'contributors being: The United Kingdom, £308,000; New South IWatei, £264,000; Victoria, £188,000; New Zealand, £184,231. New Zealand's contribution had since been raised to £176.000, of which Canterbury had provided £71,890._ That was very satisfactory, but there had been latterly a withholding of contributions from the fund, with the result that Canterbury was not filling its allotted quota to the fund. The local bodies had been given legislative power to make up contributions out of "the rates. Canterbury was £267 ishort last month, and he trusted tie money would be made up, particularly ■■ the money was in the hands of Some of the local bodies. Representatives of some local bodies had told the speaker they were not satisfied that the money was going to the relief of the 'Belgians, and that they would not pay tover until they had an assurance that the money was not going into the German war chest. ' The Minister proceeded to read an official statement by an authority who had visited Belgium, to the effect that Germany was loyally keeping to her undertaking not to interfere with relief supplies sent to Belgium. Canterbury was asked to provide £856 per month, and that was not much for such a prosperous province as Canterbury. [~ Dr Levinge said that the executive iiad made up the November quota, and (there had been no shortage of Canterbury's quota to date. I The Minister said that the Belgian Consul in Wellington made a contribution of £267 on behalf of Canterbury. Br Levinge said the money was forwarded to Mr Hislop. Canterbury had not defaulted. Mr I?'. Harrell (Bangiora County Council) said that an unfair position was created when some local bodies paid and others did not. If all paid, there would be no cause for complaint. The best thing would be for the Government to pay the wfible contribution out of the Consolidated Revenue, if jocal bodies did not contribute equally and fairly. Dr Levinge said that thirteen local bodies had paid regularly, eight had made occasional contributions, and eleven had made no contribution atall. Five of the non-oomtributoro were near Christchuroh.

Mr H. A. Knight (Malvern. County Council) tiked if the non-contributors contributed anything to the Harvest Festival funds.

Dr LoivTnge said that the Festival was held befor« the quota system was Originated. Mr S. A. Staples (WaimaTri County Council) said that either all local hodies should contribute or the scheme should be knocked on the hand. Mr J. H. Blsckwell (Mayor of Kaiapoi) asked if other provincial quotas were mode up by contributions from local bodies. Mr J. Hislop (Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs) paid that contributions were made by vaxiou? local patriotic organisations, together with contributions from local bodies.

Mr R. Evans (Eyre County Council) said there was a feeling of soreness because a very large snim of money, the proceeds of a carnival, had been sent in a Jump sum to London, and the Government subsidy on this amount had been lost. That was at the bottom of all the trouble. Eyre County would pay its quota in future, but it would not. pond money to Christchurch. It would go direct to Wellington.

Dr- Levinge said he was glad- to accept the olive branch held out by Mr

Evans. So long as the money came forward ho did not caro where it went to, Wellington ov Christchurch. Tho Mi 11 is tor said it must bo remembered tho fund was for the relief of the poor of Great Britain. Ireland and Belgium. New Zealand had sent £14,000 to Britain, £76 ; 000 to Belgium and had devoted £lo\ooo to Red Cross work and £1144 for ths purchase of blankets, etc. Mr H. F. Nicoll (Ashburton County Council) said Ashburton had contributed a quarter of Canterbury's contribution. Ashburton local bodies were prepared' to continue contributing. Mr Hunter Weston (South Canterbury) said that the local, bodies of South Canterbury would continue to contribute, the district regarding that method of contribution as preferable to voluntary subscriptions, being fairer to everyone. The £lB2 raised monthly by South Canterbury was merely a negligible burden on the contributing local bodies. There was never any trouble in collecting the money. He advised North Canterbury local bodies to take advantage of their legal powers and take the money out of the rates.

The Minister snid the City Council was down on tho list for £l6O. It had not paid. Would the Mayor of Christchurch explain why? •

Mr Holland (Mayor of Christchurch) said he was quite willing to advise his council to make grants to make up a deficit in voluntary contributions. Tt must be remembered that other funds had equally important claims on public sympathy. He did not think it failthat the Belgian Fund should be solely provided out of rates while other funds had to depand upon voluntary contributions.

Mr W. H. "Winsor (Mayor of Spreydon) &aid that tho rating basis was inequitable. Rar.a;iora. County, with a value of .fi1.300.0C0. paid only £l7 17s to the quota. Spreydou borough, which was under heavy liabilities, and was made xm of small ratepayers, had to find £BS. •

The Minister read from a report stating that there was a. deficit of £500,000 to be made up on the cost of food for the Belgians, and the need of relief to-day was as great as it ever was.

Mr Holland said that, lest there should be a misunderstanding in regard to the position of the Christchurch City Council, he might say that neither Wellington nor Dnnedin City Council made any direct contribution: to the fund. Tn those cities enough money had been kept in reserve out of the funds collected by special effort to pay the quota for several years to come.

Dr Levinge said the Canterbury local bodies agreed at a conference to make contributions. Mr Holland ?:vd lie was not invited to attend t'.'e conference.

Dr Levinge said that all local hodies were invited to attend tne conference. Mr Horrel' suggested that the £2OOO "reserve fund'' held by the

Belgian Fund executive should be sent out of the Dominion at once.

Mr 11. "Evans suggested that country local bodies contributing should be given representation on the executive. The Minister said lie would suggest a reconstitute of the executive, giving local bodies contributing £2O or over one representative, and £IOO or over two representatives on the executive. I>r Levinge said there was an clement' of mistrust in tho proposal. It local bodies did not trust tho Chmtclmreh executive they could send tho monov direct to Wellington. If it were necessary or desirable the Christchurch executive would close lip the fund, provided local bodies would agree to keep up the quota. There were representatives of local bodies on the executive, but they seldom if ever attended meetings, lie was ashamed to be a resident of a district that had repudiated the paltry sum it had agreed to contribute to the relief of a starving nation Mv W. Radcljffe (.Mayor ol Lyttclton) asked how the executive was appointed. Was it self-appointed? How did it represent Canterbury ? He would not. press these questions, but ho thought there.ghould be a reconstitution of the executive to represent contributors. . . The Minister said that the principle involved was the same as that which caused the war between Britain and her American colonies. He moved that. tho executive should be reconstituted to give every local body contributing £lO a month or over one representative, and £SO a month two representatives. Mr Radcliffe seconded the motion. Mr Horrell said there was no need for an executive at all. Let them send the money direct to the Government at Wellington. The position had altered since the executive was formed. The Minister suggested that the executive could do good work by giving publicity each month to the contributions and to the failure of local bodies to contribute. Did Dr Levinge object to his proposal for a new constitution of the executive?

Dr Levinge said he could see no reason why the executive should bo reconstituted. He would resign his position as chairman if that occurred. Mr Blaekwell suggested as an alternative that three representatives, onofrom South Canterbury, .one from Ashburton, and tho .Mayor of Christchurch, to represent North Canterbury, should be appointed members of the executive. The Minister said he would accept the proposal and withdraw his own if Mr Blaekwell would add a fourth 'member to represent North Canterbury. Dr Levinge said that members of the executive, ho presumed, could not vote on the motion. He for one would retire befor© it was put to the meeting. The Minister said it was his duty as Minister of Internal Affairs to see that the interests of public bodies were conserved. • That was his duty. He would be sorry to seo Dr Levinge walk out, but the work would have to go on, even if it had to go on without him, and the local bodies were certainly entitled to representation. Dr Levinge retired from the meeting. I Mr J. D. Hall seconded Mr Black- i well's amendment. He suggested that the executive after consideration would accept tho amendment. He did not think the executive should be outweighed by now members.

The Minister said ho desired to be reasonable, and he would' withdraw his motion in favour of the amendment. Members of the executive present had a right to vote on the motion. Mr Blackwell's motion was put. with the addition of a member for North Canterbury, as originally suggested by the Minister, and it was carried.

In reply to a question, the Minister said he would define North Canterbury as the district north of Rakaia. Mr It. Evanr. snid' it- should be the district north of the Waimakariri. Representatives sa'id that Mr Evans's boundary would leave a big district unrepresented.

Mr. Horrell moved—(l) That the meeting was satisfied of the need of the quota ; (2) that local bodies should be urged to pay their assessments; and (3) that delegates from local bodies represented at the meeting agreed to the foregoing proposals. Mr R. Evans seconded the motion, which was put in three sections and carried unanimous.ry.

Mr Blackwcll suggested the. addition of other counties to Ashburton County, so as to cover all Canterbury iu therepresentation, v lb was suggested' that South Canterbury should be the district south of tho Rangitata: that the Ashburton district should bo deemed to be that from tho Rangitata to the Rakaia; that midCanterbury should be, from the Rakaia to the Waimakariri: that Christ-church should include Christchurch and the surrounding suburbs, and that Xorth Canterbury should be the district north of the Waimakariri, making five districts represented an the executive,. This was unanimously agreed to, and

conveners of conferences to elect delegates were appointed as follows:—■ South Canterbury, Mayor of Timaxu; Ashburton, chairman of Ashburton County; mid-Canterbury, chairman of Malvern County: Cliristchureh, tho Mayor of Christchurch; and North Canterbury, chairman of the Waip'ara County.

A resolution appreciative of the able services ol* the executive, especially those of the chairman. Dr Levinge, and asking Dr Levinge to retain tho position of chairman, was agreed to. Tho meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to the "Minister for the, very diplomatic and effective manner in which ho had' conducted the conference.