OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 25

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION

CONSCRIPTING WAR PROFITS, Tho monthly meeting- of tlio Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association Executive was held on Monday morning, the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) presiding. Tho representatives from the Soldiers and Dependents' Welfare Committee and the Recruiting Committee reported regarding financial assistance being given to men going on active service, that tho matter had been fully considered. They submitted tho following recommendations--That owing to the limited funds at tho disposal of the association, it is impossible to undertake the financial liabilities of soldiers in excess of the assistance now being granted under tho scale already approved of by tho association. That tho patriotic societies of New Zealand bo strongly urged to use every endeavour to induce the Government to inaugurate a scheme whereby tho financial responsibilities of soldiers may bo relieved. That the Advisory Board bo requested t.o make immediate further representations to the Government in this matter, and. if necessary, to call a special conference of representatives to join with the board in making representations to tho Government. The Mayor moved tho adoption of tho report, and said they had considered how to assist men who had boon called up and who had financial responsibilities. Tho amount involved was very considerable, and when the men came back there would bo no money left. To supply means was too big a matter for any association, and tho only way to meet the position was by tho Government proposing a comprehensive scheme. It was suggested that a man who had built up a little business should not be allowed to come back and find he was absolutely penniless. The Homo Government was finding the matter so pressing that it had inaugurated a scheme by which it could finance and assist to the extent of £lO4 in the case of men compulsorily called up. Lieut.-colonel Stoneham suggested that the matter should be brought before the Hon. Jas. Allen. It was more than even tho whole of tho associations combined could undertake.

Mr Loudon said ho was glad the matter had not boon regarded as a political mattor. Ho thought with a Government that allowed £1,000,000 worth of motor cars to come into a country and provided civil servants, many of whom were high salaried, with war bonuses, they should take up the attitude they were taking up. He hoped the matter would not bo regarded as a. political one. The Hon.' Mr Paul said the so-called disloyalists in the community had wanted to force this position to the front already. It was seen shortly after the war started. and some had hammered away at the matter for all they were worth, and all they had got was that they were regarded as a band of disloyalists. How were these people to be relieved unless there was a conscription of wealth? And yet there were people saying that a conscription of wealth would be brought about at the right time. He thought it would require the entire influence of that association and of others to get a measure brought in to relieve these people. It would be a disgrace if they allowed anyone to suffer when the millions of war profits wore being made in the country. It was said that the war profits could be taxed at any time, and Mr Loudon had mentioned the' matter of £1.000,000 worth of motor cars. These were being paid for cut, of war profits, and how could it be said that that money could be taxed? Some of the money so made had disappeared in riotous ways, and would be impossible to tax. The "whole business of the country must bo reorganised if its resources were to bo utilised to win this war. Mr Roberts said ho saw no reason why tho whole of the war profits should not bo commandeered, and ho was prepared to offer the whole of his war profits. They ought not to profit by the position that had arisen.

The report wes adopted, it being resolved that a deputation consisting of tho Mayor, Lieut.-colonel Stoneham. Mr J. London, and the Hon. J. T. Paid wait upon the Hon. Mr Allen, and submit the recommendations by the committee for his consideration. It was decided that the next meeting of tho executive take place on January 15.