A CADDISH ACT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 142, 3 April 1940, Page 4

A CADDISH ACT

THE despicable action of some person or persons so deficient in mind as to be incapable of rational conduct in sending to most of the competing members of the Paeroa Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club a white feather together with an insulting note is to be greatly deplored. Not only did the mean-spirited person perform an act which any fair-minded citizens would regard with repugnance but the coward was not prepared to acknowledge his loathsome action, forwarding the feathers and notes in envelopes which gave no indication as to whom they were from. The address was printed on. the envelope in a way which it was hoped would make it impossible for the receiver to obtain a clue as to the identity of the sender. That the feathers and notes were sent out from a person of below average intelligence was shown in the fact that some of the recipients were only 16 years of age,, while others had already enlisted and were awaiting notice to go into camp. Unfortunately Paeroa is not the only centre where this kind of individual exists. Whakatane has also its quota. A number of young men, many of them already enlisted report having received these stupid emblems of misdirected patriotism. No doubt the stupid act was done by some person who boasts of what he would do if only he was fit, younger or eligible and it is only to be pitied that he did not give the time and money spent in sending out the feathers towards the organisation of the recent Fighting Services Welfare Appeal. It can haidly be doubted that anyone who would be responsible for such a caddish act would be very able in making excuses when personally asked to give his time or money in any effort to asc('st the country in the fight upon which it has entered.