PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17096, 19 February 1916, Page 7

PATRIOTIC FUNDS.

THE WELLINGTON CONFERENCE. .FEDERATION OF SOCIETIES. [Per Press Association.] , WELLINGTON, February 19. At the conference of representatives of Patriotic Societies to-day the Hon J. T. Paul presented the report of the committee set up to consider the question of the federation of New Zealand war relief societies. The report stated :

(1) Objects of the federation shall be as follows —(a) To establish a common basis of responsibility in respect of each society as applied to those entitled to relief (the domicile of a soldier or sailor prior to enlistment shall determine the responsibility of the respective societies). (b) To adopt means to prevent improper exploitation of funds, (e) To take into consideration all matters affecting the administration of funds raised for tile .benefit of soldiers and their dependents. (d) To adjudicate upon such matters of dispute as may be referred to the advisory board for decision, (e) To promote in all respects all matters conducive to the well-being of federated societies. (2) The federation shall be managed by an advisory board. (3) The annual conference of delegates shall he held as the advisory board shall' determine. (4) The annual conference shall consist of delegates from federated societies on the following basis—(a) Each, society whose fund amounts to a sum of £SOOO, but not exceeding £50,000, shall be entitled to appoint one delegate ; each society whose fund amounts to a sum exceeding £50,000 shall be entitled to appoint two delegates.' (b) The amount of the fund of a society for the purposes of this rule shall be deemed to be the aggregate amount of funds collected, raised or received by it from the date

of its inception to the date up to which its last preceding annual bal-ance-sheet for the time being shall have been made up, such amount to be determined' if necessary from the annual balance-sheets of the society.

(c) Each delegate shall have one vote at the conference, (dj If any society shall be unable to send a delegate or its full complement of delegates to any conference it may appoint a delegate of another society or a delegate of its own to act and vote on behalf of the absentees. (o) At each annual conference the delegates from tho provincial districts of Auckland and Wellington respectively shall elect two members and delegates from the provincial districts of Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Nelson. Westland, Canterbury, Otago and Southland shall each elect one member, who shall form the Advisory Board which shall act as a, committee of management of tho federation. The members of tho board shall elect a. chairman, who shall he chairman of the federation until his successor is appointed. (6) The conference may from time to time amend, alter, extend or repeal these rules or the objects of the federation.

Mr Paul remarked that if the conference adopted this skeleton a workaoe scheme soon would be in operation. The Minister congratulated the committee on the scheme. Such a scheme of affiliation of societies would accomplish more than a cast-iron federation, ft would greatly assist the Government, and. he believed, would put the patriotic funds on-a. sound basis. The conference deleted' Clause 6, substituting therefor: “Members of the first Advisory Board shall he elected at a conference, held in each provincial district,,and the Minister herequested to convene such conference as speedily as possible in'order that the first meeting of the Advisory Board may bo held during the first week in April. The report then was adopted. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES. Air M’La ren (Wellington), chairman of the committee set up to deal with the respective responsibilities of the Government and patriotic societies, presented the. following report from the committee: — (a) That all expenditure necessary to enable a soldier to fully carryout his duties, to maintain him at the highest point of efficiency, to fully provide for all his needs in the event of liis sickness and disablement, to

fully restore him as near as possible to his ordinary position in. civil life, is tlie responsibility of tho Government. '(b) That the duty of providing in an adequate manner for the dependents of a sodier while on service, or in the event of his death or disablement, is also the responsibility of the Government. (e) That the duty of patriotic societies is to supplement the provision made by the Government (1) by supplying any additional assistance needed bv soldiers or their dependents. (2) ‘bv helping in any manner which will facilitate complete recovery and restoration to then; former station in civil life of all sick and wounded soldiers. (3) by assisting ah genuine eases of lined arising tiom death or disablement of soldiers having dependents, the aim being to minimise the suffering arising out of the war. The report was adopted without amendment. . , , e The Minister promised to refer tne recommendations made by the conference to the Cabinet, and they would receive full consideration. There was no desire on the part of the Government to shirk any responsibility m connection with men who haci enlisted.

help from societies. On the recommendation of the committee which considered the Ministers suggestions made at the opening of the conference, it was agreed tha - * treatment of discharged soldieis as i imrch. (a) health;'.(b) board; (c) monetary assistance for clothing, rail"as, coach and steamer fares, etc. ; (d) employment and establishment of husirA;es for those to whom assistance in tins form is practicable; (e) assistance to widows and children, parents and dependents, shall be primarily the duty of the Government to attend to, that it-be within the scouq of patrrotic societies to supplement the action of the Government, each case to be dealt " ith bv the several societies according to their own views, having regard to the wants of individual cases, but approximately as nearly as may be to uniform principles of assistance. It also was decided that funds not immediately required should be invested in the name of the society in securytics authorised by section G of the War Funds Act, and that the Governmentbe requested to pav mterest-on moneys invested in the- Post Office Savings Bank from day to day at t per cent on the money invested, altnough exceeding £IOOO. . , It was resolved—“ Hint'tho establishment of homes and hostels lor discharged ancl undischarged soldiers is primarily a matter for the Government, but that patriotic societies may make grants lor the supplying of ox ’ tra comforts. That the establishment of clubs be encouraged as much as possible -bv patriotic societies.’ “ That it be a recommendation to societies to sot up special suit-committees whose duties shall be to visit both [in and ‘ out ’ soldier patients at hospitals and convalescent homes, ancl that the Government be asked to give facilities to properly accredited representatives of the committee.” GENERAL.

The following general resolutions also were passed:—'* That the Government take stops to discourage ‘ treating ’ of soldiers in uniform to liquor.”

'' That the £3OOO necessary to supply comforts for sick and wounded New Zealand soldiers in Egypt and England, os mentioned by the Hon J. Allen, lie subscribed by patriotic societies throughout the. Dominion on the'quota system, as with the Belgian Fund.” " “ That this conference having heard the suggestion of the Minister that a civil board of appeal be appointed to determine cases of premature- discharge of soldiers, desires i<> endorse the proposal and thanks the Minister for the suggestion,” “That it be a recommendation to the advisory board that they set up a subcommittee to visit the different centres of the Dominion and confer with patriotic societies.” This concluded the, business, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem and cheers for the Empire and the King.