OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13872, 14 September 1915, Page 6

OTAGO PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION.

BANKS CRITICISED.

(United Pkhbs Abbociaxiom.J

Dunedin,' Sept. 3. At a meeting of the Otago Patriotic and General ■'Welfare Association It was] reported that the total amount raised by the Belgian Relief Fund to date was £18,921. The recent Queen Carnival and Coronation for the Wounded Soldiers' Fund yielded £127,641, to which had to be added £15,381 at credit prior to tho Carnival, making a total to date of n 43,031. The cost of raising this large sum does not exceed H per cent. Mr J. A. Johnstone, chairman of the executive, moved, "That the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association call the attention of tho Government to the fact that the Bank of Now Zealand, the. National Bank, the Bank of New South Wales, the Bank of Australasia, and the Union Bank of Austra--1 lia havo only promised amongst them a total sum of '£1800 towards the pro- ; posed National Fund for wounded soldiers in this Dominion, and that they ur<n> that this fact be duly noted when I tbe Government war-tax proposals are under consideration." . The motion was earned, though there were several "Noes" when it was put, Mr John Roberts said that several institutions which ho was connected with were prepared to contribute, out not to local funds. They were waiting until a national scheme was established. ~ j .. Another speaker pointed out thao it was not the place of tho banks officers to vote money, but of their shareholders.