PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17099, 23 February 1916, Page 5

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.

THE NEXT MOVE. CENTRALISING THEIR INFORMATION. [Fbom Our CoßßEsrosuixT.J WELLINGTON, February 22. The big conference of delegates from New Zealand's patriotic societies which took place in Wellington last week has to be followed by another meeting of a representative character in Wellington 'during the first week in April. The line of demarcation between Government andslocal effort has now been well defined, and it is evident that the Government will generally leave the societies to their own devices in the spending of the large sums entrustedto them by h generous public, with, of course, the safeguards imposed under the War Funds Act, which gives the central authority sufficient power to secure proper audit of accounts. Steps will be taken to call conferences in the districts in which provincial federation has not been adopted, so that delegates may be elected to the Advisory Hoard established by the Patriotic Societies' Conference. _ This will meet in the first week in April, to decide upon the whole lines ot its future organisation, and. the manner in which it will carry out its responsibilities. The most outstanding need at first will be the creation of some complete system of intercommunication between the patriotic organisations dispensing assistance to soldiers, so that overlapping may be avoided, and the funds protected from imposture. Probably this will necessitate setting up in Wellington a central office and small staff, which will be entirely independent of the Government.