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Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1919, Page 2

The Returnel Soldiers’ Association in the various ceutres are much occupied with the discussion of various aspects of repatriation. In AVellington last, week they had something to say about profiteers whom they classed with conscientious objectors, as traitors to the .country'. There is no doubt that these views of the soldiers will help to tone up public opinion on aspects of service which are likewise to 'be regarded rather negatively otherwise. The conscientious objector in some quarters is being made a hero of, and we have waited in vain for some expression of opinion, through the press or otherwise, to denounce in the public interests such hero-worship. The homage paid t-o the “conchie” is rather a rebuff to the returned soldier whose work by comparison is belittled in favor of the renown won by the man who stayed at home. The returned soldiers’ associai tion has spoken betimes on the question, J and it is to be hoped the expression of l candid opinion will have a steadying effect on the demeanour of the public Jin quarters where the “conchies” are ‘rtributed as such heroes. As regards fthc profiteers, it seems difficult to get ion their tracks legally. They can be named perhaps so far as opinion is (concerned, but there seems to be a Difficulty in sheeting home profiteering. With prices likely to remain very high for a rather indefinite period, it is to be hoped that the Government will not relax their efforts, but continue to bring forward suspicious cases so that they may he ventilated in the open courts and the public can then form their opinion of the merits of the matter, however blind justice might be.

In .this issue appear some extracts from the report of the National AVar Fund’s Council regarding the administration of patriotic funds on the Coast. When the Council - was established, the AVestland Patriotic Society was the first body to range under the Council. To do so it handed over the whole of its funds, and entered into an agreement to draw money for relief work as required. The public fund at that time was about- ten thousand pounds. It has now grown to over thirty thousand, and as it has the national guarantee behind it, the people of this district showed their wisdom in joining up and -strang to relate these are the only two fund's in the Dominion administerel under the National AVar Funds Council. There are many small districts similar to the two mentioned, which would have found the association with -such a fund very useful, but there was some feeling abroad that they wish ed to have full' control of their own money to the end. I-n other words they were not disposed to show their confidence in the government managed Council. It is clear from the figures published to-day, as well as from the extracts from the report, that the two Coast funds have a very free hand in the administration of the money, and that the two districts “are entitled by the terms of the transfer (under which they deposited'their money originally) to assistance to the full extent of the National Council’s resources and are not limited to the amounts transferred.” SiiUce Joining the National Ftiindj AVcstlnbd (has rleccived £I7OO and Buller £OOO, figures which give emphasis to the official declaration.