PATRIOTIC FUNDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23718, 26 July 1940, Page 10

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

AUCKLAND BODY DISPOSAL OF MONEY . OBJECTION BY SOLDIERS Objection to the decision of the Auckland Patriotic and* War Relief Association to dispose of its provincial sick and wounded soldiers' fund in September was voiced by a number of speakers at the quarterly meeting last night of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association. The president, Mr. J. W. Kendall, stated that the executive was continuing with steps to decide whether it could test the legality of the Patriotic Association's action.

The position at present, he explained, was that an approach had been made to the Returned Soldiers' Association solicitors and to the Attorney-General, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, who had been asked to take action in the matter. In his reply Mr. Mason said he had looked into the position fully and did not consider that he would be justified in instituting proceedings against the Patriotic Association directly on the part of the Government. This did not mean that tho Returned Soldiers' Association could not test the matter for itself and he considered he would be equally unjustified in preventing such action. Mr. Kendall said the position now was that a final opinion was being obtained from the Returned Soldiers' Association solicitor and, on that depended the executive's future action. No steps could be taken in the meantime and if the Patriotic Association was within its legal rights in deciding to cease operations thon the Returned Soldiers' Association could do no more. Several members said their association should convene a public meeting, since it was the public who had contributed the Patriotic Association's money in the first place and they should therefore have the opportunity of supporting or objecting to the Patriotic Association's action. After a long discussion the meeting decided to endorse the executive's action and to leave tho matter to it to take such further steps as might be deemed necessary.