CORRESPONDENCE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2873, 21 April 1925, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir.—There appears to he some little doubt as to the method of distribution of Poppy Day monies 'this year in Foxton. Two years ago your town gave very freely to tin' fund, but unfortunately at that time there was no committee set up to deal with the matter of finding employment for those returned soldiers residing in Foxton, who were at that time unemployed. Recognising the fact that it is a difficult matter to set up such a committee, my Executive has decided this year that the Patriotic Society and Mayor of Foxton he asked to keep ii, close touch with my Association as to any unemployed and distressed returned soldiers in your district, so that as far as possible the funds collected in Foxton shall lie expended for the benefit of distressed returned soldiers and their dependents residing in Foxton and district itself. The idea is to give or subsidise assistance where existing avenues are insufficient or are not available. May the Association take the opportunity of extending thanks to all those who have assisted the fund this year by buying poppies.—l am, etc., W. G. RUTHERFURD, Secretary Palmerston N. Returned Soldiers’ Association. (To the Editor.) Sir. —I fail to see with “Progress” that the letter from “Introspect” was a tirade of abuse. To my mind it was a sensible letter. Will “Progress” tell us of a town with the same population as Foxton which has all the conveniences named by him? Visitors from Wellington, Christchurch, and elsewhere are loud in their praises of our little town. “Progress” wants population; is lie prepared to build up-to-date dwellings to house the people, and will he find work for ail ihat come? Re the wild pig tracks, there are portions of every borough where footpaths are not formed, and Foxton borpugh is no exception. 1 shall be surprised to learn that “Progress” is a ratepayer, and 1 am one of those who much prefer only ratepayers on the Council. What business concern would appoint as its managing director a man who only rented portion of their premises? Ratepayers, vote only for ratepayers, and the future of Foxton will be in safe hands. — I am, etc., AWAHOU.

Sir, —It is indeed amusing to perceive the way in which “Progress” ( ! ) squirms under the same treatment as he chose to meter out to out past and present public men. This will bring home to him the value of the quotation, “Do unto otliers, etc." To heap abuse upon those who have served our town faithfully and to the best of their ability, is but the recourse of an ill-balanced mind, and a proceeding that has in the past deprived our community of the services of some of our ablest citizens. It is only to be expected that there are those amottg us who object to exposing themselves on public bodies as shies for such as “Progress’ (?). Again I would like your permission to point out to your correspondent a few home truths. ' What is wanted in the cause of progress is not a destructive, bombastic and insulting policy of telling us what the other fellow has not done, but a constructive, progressive programme that is based on good, sound commonsense lines, and one that is likely to have a chance of being carried through. If “Progress” (?) is really as clever and hard-head-ed as he would have us believe, then he should quit the abusive tactics, show us what he has done in the way of contributing to the prosperity of the town, tell us just what we want, and how it is to be obtained. There are visionaries in all communities who are loud in acclaiming its needs, but who, when the acid test of ways and means is applied, are found to lack the liner metal.. The Chamber of Commerce are doing well in endeavouring to induce able men to offer themselves in the service of the community, but whatever the result, it is to be hoped that each man will ho accorded the thanks he deserves, and not be subjected to a public denunciation. 1 would ask you to open a “Questions and Answers" column for the benefit of your correspondent, and in closing would point out that wind may be useful in Holland, but in this fair laud the good text holds: “By their works shall ye know them,”— thanking von, etc., INTROSPECT.