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Hokitika Guardian, 6 April 1922, Page 2

The Geddes Economy Report at Home appears to have been a very searching investigation. One of 'the Departments which came through 'the ordeal satisfactorily was that under the charge of the Ministry of Pensions. The Estimates for this Department were £93,009,000. The “cut” amounted to only three million, and that without sacrificing a single pension which was the right of any ex-service man. The Minister in charge in discussing the position with his staff, made an arresting appeal to those administering the net and dealing with pensions. He ashed them “to be humane in their work” and said they “might have the chance of making a man revolutionary or a patriot.” He eoincluded: “For Heaven’s sake appeal for humane administration of the act. The advice tendered, to the Home authorities might well be repeated in this country. Those charged with the administration of the law in the Dominion have similar powers and opportunities to those at Home. Evidently in the Old Country there have been cases where the revolutionary has been manufactured instead of the patriot. We believe that in New Zealand the act is being administered with humane consideration, but a word of advice would be in season always—for the act is in daily operation and there might, be th e fear of stringency growing up. The case of the ex-Serviceman who breaks Sown subsequently to his return, should not he lightly treated, because his medical discharge papers happen to show him a fit. man at that time. Experience is showing the after effects of war on many men, and the necessities of flifir eqse warrant patient

tion and humae action in dealing with belated claims involved in such instances.

On Saturday 22nd inst., Poppy Day is to be inaugurated at Hokitika aitd will extend oh to Monday 24th—Aiizac eve. The artificial poppies, nearly 400,000, have been received from Northern France, where they halve been made by the widows and children of the devastated areas as a means of liveliliod till the country side was restored to normal. The poppies are to be sold throughout the Dominion, and 2,000 of the number have been allotted to this district. At the request of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Mayoress and other ladies of the town and district are organising for the sale of these interesting symbols of remebrance. Poppies grew luxuriantly in France, and more than one poet was moved to extol their loveliness, attd the beauty of the scene cheated amid the ruins of war about them, The poppies aroused very happy thoughts, and there have been embalmed in some very striking lines -the most notable df which, is perhaps, ‘‘ln Flanders’ Fieids.” The (lower has thus come to be regarded as typically one of remembrance, and it is as such that it is to be used at the coming \ nzac commemoration. The proceeds from the sale of the poppies will be devoted in the first instance to pay for the supplies received from France and in the second instance, some 75 per cent of the amount, will lie utilised to help find employment I'm' returned men requiring work. The unemployment fund will be handled by the headquarters of the Returned Soldiers Association, at Wellington-, and for so deserving a purpose the sale of the poppies hould be liberally patronised and every effort made to realise a substantial a sum as possible for the worthy object in view.