CONTROL OF WAR FUNDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CIII, Issue 15742, 28 August 1915, Page 14

CONTROL OF WAR FUNDS

SUI'KUVJSLON iiY THE STAJE. !>.OII OCR SIMXIAI CORRESVO.NDENT. WI'jI.LIXGTOX, Aug. '27. Tbe AVav Ifu-uds lii.\, wn:ch was iniicducvd t-o-<l'.iy, aims at wcciUMig some kind c.f State of the nu-nu-rcus funds that have bi-on raised for v.ar purposLS. Cla use 3 defines tho term ''war fund. - ' and tho definition :s regarded a.s wide enough to include every kind ol' patriotic, fund that may be subscrib"d to by pcon'e in New Zealand during ihe present war. Tne definition i.s as luKow.s "War - fluids'' means any fund ra'sod wholly or in part by private'subscription for any purpose in c-oifiieetion with tho present war. and in 'particular for my of the following purposes: (a) for the relief of distress occasioned by the ■var; (b) For the equipment in whole in part of naval or military forces .iHMiding the equipnient of any hosp.tal ;nip; (c) For the supply of comforts >;• conveniences to members of the said forces; and (d) For the relief, assistance or support of nu>mber.s wf the ;paid ''orct-s who may be sick, wounded, disabled or out of employment, or for the 'ciief. assistance or support of their dependents, or of the dependents of it embers w'nn may lose their lives dir:ctly or indirectly in, or in eonnect'on with the present war, and includes any other fund declared by notice in the gazette, to he a war fund. So that the various funds may be safely and efficiently administered and that tho waste entailed by the separate administration of a number of funds may be avoided, provision is made for th.e creation of a National TVar Funds Council. The Bi'l does nob compel trustees or mother persons controlling or .administering war funds, to hand over tho administration of their funds to the Council, but i>y creating a State controlled inst'tut'on. authorised by law to administer funds if asked to do so. it provides a means by which trustees and other persons enarsied with the duty of looking after war funds may pasi'v and safely transfer their respons bik'ties- A Minister ol th& Orown •vii! be the Chairman of the Council. Persons oontro 1 1 ing "Tnndr> which have not been transferred to the Xat ; ona! Council are required to furnish to the Minister, information as to (a) the name of the fund; (b) the object of the fund; (c) the name's and addresses of persons responsible for its proper expenditure; and (d) certain other matters relating to the fund. The Minister is given power to do mand from the Trustees such information as to the expenditure of fund as ho niay from time to time require. This provision will enable tbe newly est-ab-J shed Discharged Soldiers' Information Department to obtain particulars of the practice heip which is being given to returned soldiers by patriotic organisations.

Other classes will enable the State to watch the public interests by keeping guard over the administration of the funds, and w:ll also hell) the Government to obta'-n an accurate record of the amounts and a description of the objects of the war funds raised throughout tho Dombiion. Versons failing to comply with the pro-visions contained in these clauses are rendered liable to a nena'lty. Provs : on is made for the incorporation of th» trustees of a war fund for recovers of moneys unlawfully expended. and for th" penalising of persons authorising such expenditure. 'lnhere is also a provision for t'ho audit. of fund* by the Audit Offieo <r by an approved auditor, as we' l as power to make regulations.