CONTROL OF MONEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20595, 20 June 1930, Page 12

CONTROL OF MONEY.

MERGER PLAN OPPOSED. AUCKLAND BODY'S ATTITUDE. "HANDS OFF OUR FUND." The suggestion made by the commission which inquired into the position of physically and economically incapacitated soldiers, that patriotic funds held by the various bodies in New Zealand for the relief of cx-soldiers should be merged and administered by a new body, to bo called the Soldiers' Civil Re-estab-lishment League, was strenuously opposed by Mr. V. J. Larner, vice-chair-man of the Auckland Provinciaft'atriotic and War Relief Association, in his address at the annual meeting yesterday. " One cannot but commend in the highest terms the industry and thoroughness of the commissioners in gathering and collating the data and the clear and orderly method of presenting it,*' said Mr. Larner. " The outcome is a valuable contribution which should assist tho Government in its efforts toward tho betterment of our returned men. " I do not intend to discuss tho report in detail, but I do intend to deal with one point that touches our activities very closely, namely, tho suggestion that patriotic funds should bo merged and administered by a separate body. I desire to stato without any reservation that wo do not agree to this suggestion. These funds are controlled by a body of patriotic and responsible citizens, men who for tho past 16 years have been building tip their knowledge and experience of returned soldiers.

" With reference to our own fund, let me say that never have our methods beon successfully challenged. Indeed, both from the public and especially by responsible officers of tho Returned Soldiers' Association, our efforts have received tho highest commendation. I fear no contradiction when I say that by us theso funds are administered more sympathetically and more discreetly and with less cost than could be done by any other newly-constit/uted body, jl think it 13 necessary for mo to mention again that our A fund is earmarked for the sick and wounded, and can be used for no other purpose.

" We say with ono voice, ' Hands off our Patriotic Fund!' Should any attempt bo made to carry out the suggestion put forward by the commission there will arise a storm of protest from ono end of the province to the other."