WAR FUNDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 437, 5 July 1915, Page 3

WAR FUNDS.

HELP THE WOUNDED SOLDIERS.

CHRISTCHURCH COMMITTEE At a meeting of Mayors and chairmen of patriotic committees in Wellington, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki, held in Wellington on Friday, Sir John Findlay urged the need for the immediate institution of a .national body to handle the relief funds, or it may be found that when the first batch of wounded arrive in a fortnight's time no one will have power to touch the funds that have been collected for their special benefit. It is pointed out in Christchurch that Sir John advocates a proceeding already negatived by the representatives of the various centres in conference.

The idea of pooling the funds was not entertained at the conference held some time ago in Wellington, but it was agreed that efforts should be made by the various patriotic committees to work on uniform lines, the suggestion made by Sir John Findlay that no one would have power to touch the funds that had been collected for the soldiers is regarded as wholly unlikely. Mr J. J. Dougall told a Sun representative this morning that there was no danger of that nature. "Unfortunately," he said, "we in Canterbury have not enough money to meet requirements, but Sir John is quite mistaken when he thinks we have not the power to give money for relief. In Christchurch there is a very admirable system both for investigating cases and giving relief. We have a lady who was appointed to investigate cases of relatives, and in cases of wounded men who come back we would give immediate assistance as soon as we were satisfied that he was medically unfit. Even if it was a case of assisting a man till he could get a billet I think it would be done. I do not think it at all likely that any case will arise in Christchurch that cannot be instantly dealt with by the committee, but I would like to see the Canterbury people emulate the Wairarapa people in the matter of contributions."