FUNDS FOR WAR PURPOSES

North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13327, 29 July 1915, Page 8

FUNDS FOR WAR PURPOSES

.CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON/ ' ," ■> , , T t' f r t fl "; i v 14 (Vat Vtiu AifooUtion) ■, WEJjLtNtfTON, JuJy'2B. A Dominion conference in connection with the collection, control, 'and'distribution of funds for wai purposes Opened heie today, tho Mayor of Wellington (l[i IJ, Luke) presiding. ) » Mi Skerrett, K,C, .explained his scheme, i and emphasised tho absolute necessity for couipulsoiy levies opulent biauches iu the niteicsts, of poorer branches. The cardinal potat t6 bo kopt in view was that no soldior, sailoi, oi dependent should want while thcie weie luuds in the Dominion to help hint Thore must be uniformity'' of tho dcalo ot iriicf, The Mayoi of Wellington, proposed that an association, to be called the Dominion Wai Belief Association, be foimed ""*" Mr William Chinch moved, as an amendment,'that'local centres be first foimed, and that the question of federation or amalgamation be then conBideiod Mi Skonett descubed tho amondment as destiuctive to the scheme fon th? present, and possibly 'ioi all time. Mi Pan (MP foi Auckland) eomi plnnented Mi Skcriott upon tin? broadminded and statesmanlike mannei in which the scheme had been trained. He j could sec no objection to the propose* -** tedeiation. The amendment was lost, and the Ma)oi of Wellington's motion, was earned l i\ The confeience then pioeecded to ais- \ cuss the details of the scheme. The Patnotic Tunds ConfciCneo sajt till the evening It was evcntuallv decided, m lespctt to lelief, that the branches bo ..ejn poneied to giant ldief and benefit to New Zealand wounded, incapacitated, oi to necessitous soldieis oi sailors, and those in any -way dependent upon them It was agjeed, on the suggestion'it Mi Pan, that in the administration Of the funds two onmoie blanches may eb operate Special lelief cannot' bfl gianted by a bianch beyond the suiu \ ot £IOO without the Consent of the Lmutnc Committee The clauses dealing with levies from distucts that v aio sohent to those whose funds aic depleted weie adopted, as weio the clauses dealing with any ds putes that may ause. A Wanaiapa suggestion, that the \ anous funds may be amalgamated for the purpose of 'investment' by'-the; Executive, did-not rcccivp.tiio whole approval of the conference, as some 'dplegales were of tho opiuion that, the funds"should bo.invested in the district ;.•." in which the money was collected. •• Mr Parr said ha did not ■agree with : ■the. nlonby "being invested .with the A Public Trustee, and Auckland' would not send its fund out of the district;, for • investment.' '.. '■":'. The suggestion was put in the, form of a motion and carried by 30 votes toll. . •-■;.; . Mr Toss will was . desirous that branches should bo empowered to establish, as well a3 to subsidise, a hospital • or. charitable-institution as provided in • the.rules. , ........ •_ , ,-. This was strongly objected to, ind tiie' matter is to be looked into by: Mr;.;. Skerrett. '" ■; '• ■';■■ Tho drawing up.of rules as amended was left in the hands of _ Mr Skerrett, and the following committee was set up to get .the necessary matter together for the calling of the iiext \ The Mayor. Of Wellington (Mr 'J.. : P. . Luke), Messrs L. Tripp, 0. J. Parr, H. - S. Kirkealdie, aud J-JMntosb, ' Before "calling the. next conferenc,*, the r sub-committee to place in" the • hands of .the delegates of .each district the'-iiileSf, together with instructions' for voting. , ;.■■ . . . -"