THE PATRIOTIC SOCIETY'S WORK.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2765, 8 May 1916, Page 7

THE PATRIOTIC SOCIETY'S WORK.

■ Sir,—As one of tho general public who visited the Town Hill on Saturday evening last to see the heroes of Anzao being entertained; I could; not help noticing, ono or two things' which ap-. pealed to me* very much. I listened with great interest to the toasts being proposed and responded to by the Rt. Hon. VI. "F. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Robert Stoiit,: Capt. Simson, and. Mr. Thomas Wilfotd: (chairman of the New Zealand Patriotic Society), '■ and was* indeed greatly, impressed with the words that were uttered. Looking' around the hall at the soldiers seated at the tables, one could not help but'noticing the satisfied lookion the faces of those gallant men who were'assembled together.. L noticed that the chairman (Mr. T. M. Wilford), during the course of his remarks, pointedfqut that .he had a .very live 'secretary, and committee, and .that they had worked exceedingly,' hard > to . bring, the' function to such, perfection. I personally, not help thinking that-.the public generally are. not aware of the good work v that, the Patriotic Society in. this.City are doingamongst the.Vsoldiers and their dependants. The secretary,-Mr. Joseph : Lewis,, has no doubt done £reatService to the: soldiers who are.doing duty, for us, who, although _ anxious to g& to ".the front, are for different reasons' kept at home. There; can ■■ be, only ; one,'. who knows the sacrifices and long hours of;, hard .Work and. worry, that Mr. Lewis has performed, and that is, to my mind, Mr: Leiyishim6elf.; Ho,must have suffered, financially • since. :the commencement of the Patriotic Society^';but that does not. jseem to'worry'.him in .the least. Mr. 'Lewis has the soldiers' interests so much at heart,, , and he .cannot do enough for them, and I think I may be pardoned if I make the'Joßowjng statemeat,. aiid that is, that- the public should 6how their;appreciation to him "In some,'tangible'.manner.' 'I.at? • the same time, have f to .recognise, the ■ services rendered by the committee, some of whom have, right from the. formation of the society, worked with- great zealin the interests of the soldiers and their' dependants. ,■ i. ; . I trust that some more able pen than mine will take this mattor up, with-the result that the public .will show the appreciation of the services so readily given by Mr. Lewis on behalf of our "brave soldiers and sailors and their dependants.—l am, etc.,- '■:■. .v VISITOR. ' May.e. : , ■■.'.'.-■ ■- i :-\ :, : ■ ■