FOXTON’S PATRIOTISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1534, 11 April 1916, Page 3

FOXTON’S PATRIOTISM.

CAUSTIC REMARKS BY THE

MAYOR

At the conclusion of last night’s Council meeting, Cr Henderson asked the Mayor what , power Patriotic Societies possessed in granting relief to returned wounded soldiers. He quoted the case of a man at Taihape who had been shamefully treated since his return. It had been rumoured that others had been treated similarly.

The Mayor said rhe “man iu the street” lied if he said that the local Patriotic Society had turned down a single case of distress. Rumours by the ‘‘man in the street” led to bickerings and heartburnings. Two applications for local relief had been made and were receiving attention from the society. The local fund was small, smaller than in any town of its size in New Zealand. Even Bulls bad given thousands to Foxtou’s hundreds. There would be other men coming back and provision would have to be made for them.

Cr Whibley : Let the State lake the responsibility. “Yes,” said the Mayor, ‘‘and establish poor houses all over the country.” If persons would briug cases that come under their notice or in which they are interested before the society instead of gvsgipiug about them to all and sundry, the society would deal with the cases as far as it was able and give any other assistance in its power. Public meetings had been called to deal with patriotic matters, and they could only get about half-a-dozen to attend. Instead of attending meetings, certain people indulged in criticism of the work that was being done by the society. It was easy enough to criticise, but the society wanted workers not grumblers.