CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR OUR TROOPS.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2876, 14 September 1916, Page 4

CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR OUR TROOPS.

Every encouragement should be given to the movements to pro- , vide Christmas gifts for our troops abroad. These little attentions count for so much. They reach tho men at a timo when their thoughts are turned New Zcalandwards. ECcollections are stirred at the Christmas season and tho heart touched as at no other time, and ouv soldiers in France and elsewhere when that timo comes round a few months henco must not bo permitted to feel that we havo forgotten them. Wo must let' them see that they havo been in our thoughts. In this connection a messago from a Maori soldier, published recently is worth attention. This poor follow, probably a little homesick in a strango land, remarked that the Maori Contingent had received no gifts from overseas for some time. Apparently tho Maoris havo become separated from the rest of our troops, and so have been overlooked. This should be remedied, and no doubt those who are arranging for tho sending of gifts will see that tho gallant Maoris a,re not passed over. His Excellency tho Governor, too, makes 11 suggestion in our columns this

morning to enable recognition to bo made of the services of the mop in the mercantile marino who have assisted in the transport of our troops. But first of all the funds are needed. Who is there, who cannot sparo something to gladden the hearts of "our boys" at the front with a Christmas gift that .will carry to them that breath of the homeland for which they are longing!