NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR
Sir.—Your contributor, "Save, the Boys," in Saturday's issue, commenting on the efforts of those grandly practical institutions, the _ Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Array, in raising funds for our assistance, seems to sound a note of disparagement. In making his scathing indictment on the extravagant tendencies -of the community, it is painfully evident on • all hands that he is right, but tbe warworkers are fully justified, and it is to bo sincerely hoped that the "shameful reflection" will rppeal, as it should do, at every fresh attempt to raise funds. I believe in a war tax, too, and I make the inference that your contributor is of the rare typo of citizen who recognises his duty and does it without propaganda or appeals from anyone, much less the more arbitrary war tax to coax l-iin. As I said, his type is rare. The private appeal, though, even if time-worn, will wear a long time yet, and to my mind is not more a "shameful reflection" than a war taxiis, but has a rare quality, "the will to give." Not so with the war tax, for how many are "ag'in the Government" now; in fact, have a chronic complaint with all Governments. I know ?rom soldiering experience that the boys are, before everything, practical, and know praß* tical people firsthand, and,, furthermore, take it upon myself to Bay that no one who has "been there" can honestly speak, disparagingly of such practical institutions. There is no straw-splitting as to the social or religious calibre of those who assist—only appreciation. Surely the man who "filches" money, and then gives at least some of it to the fund, shows a redeeming quality, but, after all, the man who chases racehorses for a win does not, generally speaking, lose much sleep over "the boys," much less money, as "Save the Boys" would know if he had much to do with subscription lists. In conclusion, I would say, if we are in a position to give more than the word "sympathy," lot us do so, and thereby save tbe term from that cheap reputation it has generally earned, especially in print.—l am, etc., COSMAS.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 170, 8 April 1918, Page 6
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362NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 170, 8 April 1918, Page 6
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