CONTROL OF WAR FUNDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16008, 28 August 1915, Page 9

CONTROL OF WAR FUNDS.

SUPERVISION BY STATE. A NATIONAL COUNCIL. ' STATE AT'DTT OF ACCOUNTS. I [BY TKT.FOII VPJI. — SPFrjM. 'nnjIKSPOMIFN'T.] Wellington-, Friday. Ttte War Funds Rill, which \v,i s introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. aims at securing some kind of State supervision of the numerous funds that have been, raised for war purposes. Clause 2 defines the term "war fund." and the definition is regarded as wide enough to include every kind of patriotic fund that may be subscribed to by people in New Zealand during the present war. So that the various funds may be eafeh' and efficiently administered, and that the waste entailed by the separate administration of a number of funds may be avoided, provision is made for the . creation of a National War Funds Council. The administration of funds may be handed over to this council. A Minister of the Crown will be the chairfnan of the council. Persons controlling funds which have not been transferred to the National Council are required to furnish to the Minister information as to (a) the name of the fund, (b) the object of the fund, (c) the names and addresses of persons responsible for its proper expenditure, and (d) certain other matters relating to the fund. The Minister is given power to demand from the trustees such information a* to the expenditure of the fund as he may from time to time require. Persons failing to comply with the provisions contained in these clauses are rendered liable to a penalty. Provision is made for the incorporation of the trustees of a war fund, for the recovery of moneys unlawfully expended and for the punishment of persons authorising eucli expenditure. There is also a provision for the audit of funds by the Audit Office or by approved auditor, as well as power to make regulations.