NATIONAL WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13873, 15 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

NATIONAL WAR RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

ADMINISTRATION OF FUNB.S

SUMMARY OF SCHEME.

(From "The Colonist," Aug. 31.) At the request of the Committee of the Sick and Wounded Soldiers' Fund thte Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley) has drafted a summary of Mr. C. P. Skerrett's scheme for the administration of the war relief funds, as follows :— (1) There is to be central society called "The New Zealand National War i Relief Association," and it is to be incorporated. (2) Such association is to consist of local societies for raising and.administering war relief funds within their respective districts, and such local societies are to-be incorporated as branch societies of the association. (3) The objects of the association are:— | (a) To control the administration of the war relief funds held by the branches according to some uniform scheme of administration to be from time to time determined by the executive committee of the .association for the relief and benefit of New Zealand . soldiers and sailors and their dependents, and as far as possible to. spread the relief, to be afforded equitably and uniformly over the Dominion, without reference to the locality or to the amount <>f money raised for the purposes of the fund in each locality, so that no soldier or sailor or his dependents shall be without relief. (b) To regulate grants of sums of money from the funds of branches in lieu of weekly or periodical payments. (These two purposes are to be deemed the fundamental objects of the association.) (c) To adopt means to prevent exploitation of th© funds of branches.

(d) To make levies on branches for such sums as may be necessary to provide "funds for carrying on the association. <'c) To levy on branches which have a surplus of money for the benefit of branches that have not. (f) To take all steps necessary to' secure the eflicient, <K)onoinical and due administration of the funds. fg) To secure a proper audit of the funds of both th» association and th© branches. (h) To settle disputes. (i) To raise or promote the raising of further funds. (]) To promote the well-being of branches. (k) To erect homes, hospitals and other institutions for the wives or children or dependents of New Zealand soldiers or sailors who hay edied or becom© incapacitated. (1) To determine who are "dependents." (4) The association is to be managed by a president and an executive committee. (5) Branches are to be formed throughout the Dominion, and tho boundaries of the local district of each branch are to be fixed. No branch is to be admitted to the association except by resolution of the conference or executive eomnuttee of the association. The branches are to make their own rules, not inconsistent with the rules of the association, and are to appoint branch executive committees and officers.

(6) An annual conference of delegates from each branch is to be held each year, at a time and place to be determined by the president of the association, and special conferences may be,held if such become necessary. (7) Each branch is to appoint delegates to the conference on the following basis:—

A branch with funds not exceeding £20,000, one delegate. t A branch with funds exceeding £20,----000, but not exceeding £50,000, two delegates. And a branch with funds exceeding £50,000, three delegates. Each delegate shall have one vote at the conference.

(8) The president of the association is to be elected annually by the delegates at the conference. (9) At each annual conference the delegates are to elect eight persons who, with the president, are to be the executive committee of management of the association.

(10) The executive committee is to manage the affairs of the association, but it is not to make a levy on a branch without the approval of the conference.

(11) The association or a branch is not bound to carry ou all the objects of tho association, but may from time to time select the objects to which it will devote its funds, and generally the association and branches may idminister and distribute their funds in such manner and upon such principles not inconsistent -with•the rules as they shalMn the .exercise of their discretion deem advisable. ' ■ ' •.'■■<-.--■■

■ .'(12) ;Each' branch is to control; and 'administeri% own funds, provided it does not commit a breach of the rules of the association providing for any uniform scale of relief or regulation of the executive committee, or unless the executive committee of the association objects to the action of the branch.

Two or more branches may join together for the administration cf N their funds. (13) Relief shall as a rule consist of periodical payments made by a branch from its funds according to the scheme from time to time determined by the executive committee of the association. In exceptional cases a branch may grant relief in the form of a grant or advance of a sum of money, but no such grant or advance exceeding £100 in any one case is to be made by a [ branch without the consent of the executive committee.

(14) No branch is to grant any relief in excess of the maximum rate fixed by the executive committee. Each branch is to be bound by the definition of "dependents" from time to time adopted by resolution of the conference. , - t No branch is to pledge itis fund for any definite period. All allowances are to be dependent upon the.adequacy of the funds, and are to be subject to revision as circumstances may require.

(15) The conference will from time to time determine the principles and conditions on which claims for relief are to be dealt with by the branches. (16) For the purpose of giving effect to the fundamental object of the association, namely, that relief from the funds '.shall be afforded equitably and uniformly for the Dominion, so that no soldier or sailor or his dependents coming within the purposes of the fund shall be without relief, levies on branches may be made by the conference.

(17) If the .funds of a branch became, insufficient to provide relief within its district for the ensuing period of two years, then a levy may from timeto time be made upon the branches that are able to pay to help the branch that is not. / (18) All disputes between branches,! or between a branch and the associ-' ation, are to be settled by the executive' committee A pai-ty dissatisfied j with the decision of the executive com-, mittee may appeal to the conference. '

The decision of the conference is final, and is not;to- be questioned- in any cqurt-of law.

. .'(19) •Each' branch, on it* formation'i :has forward*-^ .the-executive' committee ah audited ,statem.eirt of its fund and the method of its investment. Once in three months it ha& to forward to the executive committee a statement showing all applications for relief granted. Once in every year it is to forward to the executive committee a balance-sheet and; statement of accounts, duly audited, and such statement is to show all persons to whom relief has been granted. (20) The conference is from time to time to appoint not less than three trustees of; the-funds of the association. Each branch is from tinve to time to appoint not less than -two trustees of its fund. The trustees are to hold the funds upon trust, to permit the same to be administered in accordance with the rules of the association and its branches. Trust funds may be invested—

(a) On deposit in a bank or with th© - Public Trustee; (b) In such manner as trustees are authorised by law to invest trust moneys. There are full powers given to the association and to the branches to make rules and regulations for the carrying out of the objects of the scheme.