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Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1923, Page 2

Tut; ease for the soldiers was well put at a meeting of returned men at Christchurch last week, when the retiring president of the Canterbury Soldiers’ Association (Mr Walker) said the association hud continued to justify ami more than justify its existence by services rendered not only to members, Inn to the whole community. It represented a big movement. ana through its activities the Government had been prevailed upon to bring down a good deal of special legislation. New Zealand had done admirably in meeting the needs of returned soldiers. Now, repatriation was virtually a tiling of the past, but thete was still tl.e land problem. Thete was also the acute problem of men who were breaking down in health as the result if war service, in spite of the support of leading doctors, it was difficult to get the Government to treat as service patienrs men who were now breaking down a s the result of war service. The Association intended to fight the claims of those men until it. got ‘-ati--laction. The executive was doing its utmost, towards that end. Thoroicre, it. could he seen that tile Association must continue to be a strong organisation. If it. weakened, the Government would weaken. Already many benefits were being withdrawn, or, is the Government naively put it. ‘•suspended”. If their comrades uetc to get justice returned soldiers must stand solidly together inside the Association. Dependents of fallen men were suffering, and they needed all 1 ho help and attention tho Association could give them. Mr Walker made an appeal for the election of capable men to the executive of the Association, and for generous assistance to tho.-o who were in trouble. AN hat Mr AAalker so admirably said at Christchurch, applies very aptly to all parts of New Zealand. and with Anzae Day sentiments so much in our minds this community.

as all others, should take the wvls .0 heart, and not fail to continue to Go justice to the claims 01 tho ox-service-men of the country.

Tiik Native Birds Protection Society I lias issued a circular drawing aiten- | t-icn to the work in hand. At the meet- ! jug when the society was formed a forester stated that “no forest in the world is so dependent on its bird life for pollination, distribution oi seeds and control of destructive insects as is the Now Zealand forest. He also Mated that if the native birds tt New Zealand became extinct the death ol the native forests would follow. In a circular to sawmillcrs. Colonel Sanderson (the organiser) states:—“Let it at once be remembered that our native birds arc the birds cho'-cn l>\ nature after thousands of years' evolution as the most fitted for their purposes, such as distribution of seed, pollination and above all, keeping it check of insect life, borers etc., which are always attacking the forest trees. Eliminate the birds—the natural enemy of insects, borers and their moths, and we give the latter free and undisputed sway. It is quite on the cards that the terrible yellow leaf disease caused by something attacking flax roots, which threatens to put an end to flax milling, an industry worth millions, may eventually be traced to the destruction of swamp birds such as the pttkeko and wekft. A similar calamity may just as easily overtake our forests through our upsetting the balance c‘ Nature by destroying native birds, the guardians of the timber trees. The subject will no doubt commend itseF to your thoughtful consideration, and you will see the vital necessity for checking the wanton destruction of our fast-disappearing birds before their loss is irretrievable and ye njl come to pay penalty."

Tins municipal election yesterday created more than the usual stir. The interest of the public in local affairs was well manifested at Tuesday’s meeting whereat Borough matters wese well thrashed out. Yesterday’s polling was not the heaviest on record, but it was well distributed. Four new members will appear at the Council table when the newly elected body is called together. The new members arc Mcssis Evans, Jeffries, Mackey and Heinz, all of which should prove useful councillors. Mr Coulson is to be congratulated on again topping the poll, while Mr 1 loyr. also enjoys a prominent position. Both candidates worked hard to secure a good position, and they had a due reward. The retiring member • who have been displaced were not disgraced by the polling. They all received a good measure of support- from tho ratepayers. The election appears to have been conducted without an,' show of feeling and in the best of good nature. Tile new Ccunc.il will lunt Plenty of work ahead of it. if it ;■< to attend to all the matters which the candidates’ addresses indicated were in sight. Apart from that, increasing responsibilities are growing upon the Council because of the expansion of the Borough, so that the term of office should he a busy one.