PATRIOTIC FUNDS CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16097, 10 December 1915, Page 9

PATRIOTIC FUNDS CONTROL.

INTENTIONS OF STATE. FREEDOM OF ACTION WANTED. An important report by Auckland's representative, Mr. E. A. Craig, at the recent conference of patriotic societies in Wellington was published recently. It described, among other things, what the Government proposed as the relationship between the patriotic and State Departments, and it pointed out that there was a. danger of the Government seeking to control the activities of the associations. This report was itself the subject of a leport by a sub-committee, submitted to the executive of the Auckland Patriotic Association yesterday afternoon. The com nsittee was of opinion " that the greatest care roust be taken to maintain freedom of action and to ensure that no Government officer or Department shall by agreeitent or otherwise be put in & position to require the association to act in -ay particular direction." I Dealing sereatim with the recommenda/tions submitted by the Minister for Infeternal Affairs as the basis of the relationSsbip between the Government and. the associations, the sub-committee gives general gapproval to some of the suggestions which jit thinks appear reasonable, but it sets its iiace resolutely against) any suggestion of the association undertaking duties that should be fulfilled by the State. It was pointed out that the associations might Bassist in various directions, but objection was taken to such suggestions as that the maintenance of the convalescent camps should be primarily a charge upon the | associations, or that the duty of providing men in European hospitals with ''lax- ! uries " should devolve upon the associa- j tions. In these things, the committee sug- j ? gested, the associations should only bo ex- j pected to assist. ! With regard to the system of granting assistance to soldiers, the sub-committee reported that it understood " that in Auckland the sole test is, Does the soldier ! need help? If so, no question is asked as ! to his domicile or place of enlistment. This is the simplest possible way. It enables the committee to deal with cases promptly and efficiently, limits correspondence and removes opportunities for friction. It requires reciprocity by other districts and probably will entail greater expense to this district than the other method proposed. Your committee arc strongly of opinion that a conference of chairmen of relief committees is very desirable in order that uniformity of practice may be arranged." The report was received, and will be considered at a later date. Meanwhile an endeavour will he made to arrange the proposed conference of chairmen of relief committees.