NAVY RELIEF FUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16796, 12 March 1918, Page 6

NAVY RELIEF FUND.

OFFICIAL RECOGNITION.

MR. RUSSELL SYMPATHETIC.

A deputation', representing the Auckland branch of the Navy League waited on the Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister for Internal Affairs, yesterday morning in reference to a grievance respecting the attitude of the Department of Internal Affairs toward the league's disbursement of aid to members 'of the navy and their dependants. _ The deputation was introduced by Captain E. J. Thomas, president of tho Auckland branch. Mr. H. E. Lunn outlined the work being done by the local branch and its supporters, and instanced cases of relief given in New Zealand. Tho local branch had forwarded substantial sums of money to the league in England, but was instructed by the headquarters at Home to afford relief in cases which came under its notico locally. As the result of communications with the Department in Wellington the league had been advised that the Government had recognised one organisation and ono fund for the distribution of patriotic funds and .could not authorise the setting up of another fund for a like purpose. This letter had been signed by a Departmental head. The local branch had no intention of administering relief on a broad scale or of interfering with the work of the Patriotic Society, but had set up its relief fund so that it could administer to the relief of men of tho navy who camo under its notice. Tho distribution of money in this way was in capable hands, and there was no chanco of its being wasted. The deputation asked that the restriction placed on,the league's activities be removed. Mr. P. E. Cheal remarked that the league was not like the patriotic societies, which would disband when the war wasover. The local branch was portion of a world-wide lcaguo that had been in existence for a number of years. The present position was that the local branch could receive money but without the permission of the Government could riot make disbursements. After perusing the letter referred to, the Minister said it had been forwarded without his knowledgo or sanction. Ho regretted that it had been sent. He was not prepared to support the decision of the Departmental officer contained in it. The Government appreciated the work done by tho Navy League, and he was in favour of giving the branch a free hand to collect money and expend it in giving assistance to men of the navy anywhere, for in this way it would be meeting cases which did not come beforo the patriotic associations. The operations of these latter bodies were confined principally to tho relief of soldiers and their dependants. He thought that the claims for assistance to the men of the nßvy should over-ride the claims of our own men, for without the navy the colonial tronos could never have gone to the front. He urged the league to use the machinery of the Department of Internal Affairs to despatch money, and said he would regard the safe carrying out of any such trust as a sacred responsibility. He also mentioned that in order to comply with the War Funds Act it might he necessary for the league to enlarge its objects and advised them to consult their solicitors on the point. Tn the event of'it being necessary to have the objects widened, he would see, as Minister, that the necessary amendments were put through and gazetted. Captain Thomas thanked the Minister for his rcassurintr remarks.