LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 3

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

• ——-4 _ v POSTACE ON SAILORS' LETTERS. Siri—l Save just received word from my son who is with one of His Majesty's ships on active service, that ha has to .find stamps for any correspondence he posts to his people here in New Zealand. - It would, not'cost our Government very mudh if they arranged for free postage for all suchi-letters. As soldiers'-letters are carried free, it is ■ only reasonable that our ;inen on the warships should bo treated in the same liberal spirit. , It is a small thing, and no doubt the. matter has escaped the notice of the authorities here, who have so many important things to deal with #t present.—l am, etc., . • A MOTHER, 'Petone,"August 12, 1915. - LONELY NEW ZEALANDERSi Sir, —On April 24 I printed the fol-.lowing'-in-'the - J 'Biitt-'Valley' Independent":—"lf the' people of New Zealand could only see the look of disappointment on the'faws' 1 ;' of . our boys when they find there is ino', letter,for. them they -would "send a letter every week to the men. they are acquainted . with. Some of them haven't had a letter yet from anyone."—Extract from a letter sent by Lieut. Donald M'Curdy, in charge of N.Z. Military Post Office, Main Expeditionary Forces. If anyone cares to write letters to unknown N.Z. soldiers, all they have to do is to address them: "For any New Zealander who has not received a letter by 'this' mail, care No. 13/67, Lieutenant Donald M'Ourdy, N.Z. Military Post Offioe, Main N.Z. Force, per G.P.0., Wellington." He will see that. some, disappointed chaps are made happy. Just remember that the best and the: worst, are on .an equal footing in offering their lives _to' protect; you from German aggression.

By this week's mail I have received a letter from my son, in which he says he has received the "Independent" with tho "Lonely New Zealander" paragraph, and also a number of letters in response to my appeal. He has handed them to the chaplains to deliver: to soldiers in hospital who have not received a letter by the same. mail. Will you kindly publish this lotter in your Saturday's issue, so that all our people may know that if-they can find time to write a note to lonely New Zealanders that tho notes will be. the source of much oomfort to the disappointed boys of our blood who havo sustained injuries in defence of the Empire. Don't write about tho, war—just tell them about little local and home affairs—let them know you are treating them as if they wero hoys of your own rearing. They deserve it. I have only 500 subscribers to the paper I edit, and they have commenced the good work. If I can roach 500,000 through the bigger city papers, surely there will be no New Zealander in hospital or convalescent home who will be lonely on mail days.—l am, etc.,- . ANGUS J. M'CURDY, . : Editor -"Hutt Valley Independent."