THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15823, 21 January 1915, Page 4

THE PATRIOTIC FUND.

The discussion which arose at the last meeting of the Charitable Aid Board upon the relief of local distress has provided the public with convincing evidence that the Patriotic Fund, so liberally subscribed by the people of the city and province, is being carefully and wisely administered by the Citizens' Patriotic League. Citizens will not fail to appreciate the watchful eye which the relieving officer is keeping on the Charitable Aid Board's funds, but they will not generally agree, with the inference that every claim for relief of misfortune that can be attributed to the war should be. passed on to the- Patriotic League. It is true that a considerable sum of money was subscribed to the Patriotic Fund specially for the relief of local distress. It is also undeniable that the hardships experienced have so far been greatly below expectations, as is shown by tho fact that the Charitable Aid Board's expenditure for the six months of the war is only £200 greater than during the corresponding six months of the previous year. It is ridiculous to suggest that the Charitable Aid Board is being greatly inconvenienced in meeting this small extra charge or that the emergency is such as to make it advisable for the Patriotic League to change its present policy. Dependents of members of the expeditionary force, who are in need, have an unquestionably strong claim on the Patriotic Fund, and the subscribers would not readily forgive the Patriotic League if it endangered the continuance of such necessary help in order to relieve the Charitable Aid Board's funds. This is •'local distress"' which the Patriotic League cannot ignore, nor can it overlook the possibility of Aucklanders and

other New Zealanders returning from the 'war seriously injured, and re"quiring for considerable periods material help from the fund. That the Government has already made some provision for such cases can no more arnul the Patriotic League's responsibility to those who are serving their country than the contributions of citizens who feared serious local distress can relieve the Charitable Aid Board of their duty to help +he poor.