THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24405, 17 September 1940, Page 4

THE QUEEN CARNIVAL

10 rHF EDITOR Sir,—l have just read a letter written by “Harlequin,” criticising our Queen Carnival in terms which I consider are rather unfair. In the first place. Harlequin says this is the wrong time for an appeal for funds for rehabilitation purposes. ’ As it may be many years before the war is won. what he really means is that the appeal should be made after hostilities have ceased. Then he goes on to say that it is the State s duty to rehabilitate the returned mem I sav it is nothing of the kind; we had experience of that sort of thing after the last war. The Government at that time purchased land for the returned men. the majority of whom did not make a success of it. through, perhaps, no fault of their own. The Government was blamed, but if it purchased any other business for them at that time they would have got caught in the depression and the Government would have had to bear the blame. The rehabilitation of the returned men is. therefore, not as easy as it seems, and it does not matter what Government is in power at tb- time of the return of the soldiers, it will have to be very careful that it does not make a mess of things. It may certainly be a little early m the day to start raising funds to rehabilitate the forces. Still, the project has been started, and it seems rather unfair to my mind for anyone to throw “ cold water ” on the movement at the present time. I would like to point out how important it is for us to make a real success of anything of this kind. If we do not do so we are only helping our enemies to become victorious and I am quite sure none of us want that. As I was one of the many who helped at the Hut and around the Octagon on the occasion of our last effort to raise funds, it may not be out of place for me to make some remarks about my experience there. I was a stranger to most of the people of Dunedin, and I was greatly struck by the wonderful way they responded to the call, more especially does this apply to the old people. One did not need to ask them at all: they came and purchased a ticket without, a murmur, while youths and maidens just smiled and passed by—not that I toqk any exception to them doing it as I was a youth myself one time, and. as we all know, we cannot change human nature and we have to put un with the thoughtlessness of youth. Still it does not seem right that youth should not be made to contribute something towards our war effort, and the dance that is being held on Saturday evenings is one of the manv ways we have of securing this end. It serves a dual ourpose since it gives them a little pleasure.—l am, etc. Commonsense. Dunedin. Sept. 15.