The Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1914. COLONEL MALONE’S APPEAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144484, 19 September 1914, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1914. COLONEL MALONE’S APPEAL.

In another column will bo j.a letter from Colonel AfaJonc. appealing to Taranaki to find Uf. share of a hind ot £7uoo lo i,e placed at (lie disposal of a boa ni of trustees lor the purpose ot providing for the needs ot sick and wounded men of the \Vetliaprinn contingent of tho espeditinnarv force, also lor extra comforts ior the men. Incidentally Col Oit cl Malone criticises (lie action of the local patriotic comrniuec. whim, he says, ruled out ihe circular letter and his own personal application for the money. Lie thinks the people of Taranaki do not understand the position, and that on their knowing it they will insist on Taranaki coming into line with the rest of the Wellington military district, and doing its share. V, o can best reply to this perhaps by explaining briefly what applications have come before the patriotic committee and how they have been dealt with. The first, we believe, was one which had already been briefly discussed by Colonel Malone vrith the Mayor and others. It. was ior a sum of £2OO for the Iltii Kegimout, to be available for the purchase of little comforts. The local committee. was asked —through Major Ikdlritiger—to find a share of tins, but at first demurred for want of fuller information as (o the real needs. Eventually, ihowever, a sum of £SO was voted. Then came a tel‘'graphic request from “Defence, Awapuni,” for a supply of boots to be sent at a day's notice. To this a reply was sail! that suitable boots were not Procurable here at such short notice. Then Captain Ji‘Donnell wived that boots were procurable in 'Wellington if the local committee would pay for them. Upon ihc. assurance of .Major Temperloy that the boots were really required the committee agreed lo nay ior 100 pairs at a cost of £75. Following this was a request from another officer for supply of hooks and writing material for the men. ThL was turned down nu the ground partly that h lai go number of books had already been presented to the. men leaving here, through (lie Victoria League—one family, we know, gave over sixty hooks—and partly that the fund had not been subscribed for such a purpose. Then there came .Major Snml's cireiihir asking the committee '.o furnish a share of the £7OOO proposed to be raised, as referred to in Colonel Malone's letter. Since then—within the J.c.-t day or two there has come a further request to the committee to assist in raising a sum of £•■12,(100. This Ims not come before ifle commit 100 yet, hut we believe the objects are somewhat similar to those of the £7OOO. it will thus lie seen that, (he committee has to deal with applications Irom various sources, all more or less overlapping. Colonel .Malone suggests that, instead of raLing and giving money in relifii" of the general taxpayer, Taranaki shall recognise its duty and subscribe and pay to the regiments the money required. If the public are generous enough to adopt the suggestion, well and good, but we would point out that when the patriotic fund was initiated it had not been suggested that the money or any portion of it should be paid into n regimental fund of any kind. The bulk of (he money subscribed here was "for the purpose of assisting the Government by all means in its power in any measures which the Government may consider accessary to be taken in

connotation with ilie defenoo of tlio Empire and the Dominion and for all purposes relating to the mobilisation, equipment, and dispatch of volunteers from the Dominion and relief of any. necessities which may arise by reason of the war.” This gives the committee a little latitude, hut we do not think it can be. construed to permit of a large portion of (he funds being voted to the purposes desired by the officers. Some of the money was subscribed specifically for (he relief of distress arising out of the war, and the committee has taken steps to provide for this by retaining a substantial sum for use when cases of distress arise. Colonel ifii.lcme admits that the (tnvernment is doing "all that is reasonably necessary for the general wcliaro of the troops,” and the commilt.ee has assisted to this end by forwarding to the Govornliiect a,; a first instillment a sum of £J2oO. A substantial balance is being retained to meet emergencies more urgent than that of providing puddings for men whose welfare is ‘ already ; reasonably provided for. or a Uourth meal for men who choose ito cat, two meals at one sitting. | We quite agree that ample pro- | vision should be made to succour I men who may ho wounded or invalided, but hold that the most businesslike way of providing for this would be for the Government to authorise the High Commissioner to meet such eases out of the public funds. There is lio urgency; the men have not left New Zealand yet ; and it would be far more satisfactory to have these things provided for on a 1 national • scale through the Government and the High Commissioner. who might be assisted by a committee of New Zealanders in London. No one, we are sure, desires to see one of our men suffering unnecessarily, but there is a fear of overlapping in some directions, and of neglect in others, in a multiplicity of funds and organisations. The fear of (bis has deterred many people from subscribing as liberally'as they might have done to the patriotic funds, not. from any wish to escape liability, but because they want (o see the money properly ad mi d istpred.