PATRIOTIC FUNDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23931, 5 October 1939, Page 10

PATRIOTIC FUNDS

CONTROL SYSTEM ANNOUNCED CENTENNIAL ORGANISATION TWELVE COMMUNITY CHESTS (Per United Press Association,) WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. For the purpose of controlling war fund activities and avoiding overlapping of effort, the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations have been gazetted and were explained by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) to the House of Representatives to-day. Showing the necessity for this control, the Minister mentioned that there were nearly 600 separata war funds and just under 1000 collecting agencies during the last war, resulting in not only extravagant competition and expense in collecting funds, but actual misappropriation and wasteful expenditure. "It is intended during the present war to establish a national patriotic fund and 11 provincial funds," the Minister continued, "thus creating 12 community chests and enabling expenditure to be regulated. Power to approve purposes was being vested in the Minister, thus making it possible to withhold approval of any purpose until the need arises. The provincial fund districts sire those constituted under the New Zealand Centennial Act with the same subdivisions, and the Provincial Centennial Council will be the Patriotic Council controlling the various local committees. All collections will be made for the respective provincial funds and the council will control the provincial expenditure. It will be empowered to employ for this purpose specially qualified organisations, such as the Returned Soldiers' Association, Y.M.C.A., Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc. A national fund will be established, controlled by a special incorporated board with the GovernorGeneral as chairman. Expenditure Overseas It was hoped, the Minister said, that moneys would be contributed both by the people generally and the provincial councils for purposes which could best be served by the national body In particular, all moneys for expenditure overseas must be paid into the national fund. The general administration of the regulations would be the function of the Minister in whom was vested the sole power to declare approved purposes. i The general definition of "patriotic purposes" closely follows the definition of "war fund" in the 1915 Act The Minister will be assisted by a National Advisory Council, which he will appoint, this body having the general function of advising all patriotic collecting organisations and making such investigations as are deemed necessary. The" Minister assured the House that this complete system of control would not destroy local autonomy. "It may be objected," he continued, " that it will have the disadvantage of prohibiting reputable bodies raising funds for purposes for which they are particularly fitted. The answer is that they should be proud to throw the whole of their weight into a true community effort in the knowledge that their help will tie sought in the expenditure of the community chest to the extent which they prove themselves worthy of that trust. Exemptions from System "Various exemptions from control are being gazetted immediately," Mr Parry, continued. " These cover spiritual work and the ministrations of churches amongst the forces, also local and private functions in honour of soldiers. Centennial funds no longer required for that purpose may be diverted to approved patriotic purposes. Regarding money already raised, and goods given for the present war, the regulations make provision for their being held in trust by the collecting agencies for disposal for such approved patriotic purposes as the appropriate provincial councils direct." Mr Parry concluded that the regulations would safeguard the interests of the only two classes of people who in the final analysis really mattered in all patriotic war-time effort—namely, those who gave and those for whom they gave. The substitution of community for sectional control must, the Government felt sure, be the best such safeguard.