CORRESPONDENCE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 48, 22 June 1915, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

(Correspondence is invited on any matter of pub'.ic interest. The Editor, however, does not necessarily agree with the views expressed by correspondents.!

How to Help.

I TO THE EDITOB.I

Sir.—l wish to draw the attention cf your numerous country readers to a scheme we have started in Mangere lor the help of the wounded, maimed and their dependents, and the dependents of the killed of the heroes of New Zealand who are so nobly fighting for our independence. The ladies of Mangere are making a house to house canva's of the district to get everyone to subscribe a lump sum, and then to give a sum weekly, as much as they can afford, say, from one penny ter week for children and then one shilling upwards for adults till the war is over. Many people could not afford to give £1 outright for this, but would net miss one shilling per week. To show what can be collected in this way, if every adult person in Mangere only gave Is per week this district would wise £2OOO in one year, to you can well realise what the whole of New Zealand would raise. We would goon get a million pounds. This is a pioposai which we hope every local body in New Zealand will tike up, and every man, woman and child, and then the soldiers and their dependents would be provided for is they dpserve after doing their duty for the Empire, and not have to only depend on what they will get in the way of pensions from the Covernment.

It is the duty of every person in New Zealand who wishes to be classed as a Britisher to do their duty this end if they cannot go to the front, and by contributing to this fund weekly they will be doing so, and encouraging men to enlist, and our men already at the front (who have been such a credit to New Zealand by their bravery, ol which we are so proud), and those who are going, will be comforted and it will relieve their minis to know that the people left in New Zealand ate providing this money /or their dependents if they are killed or mainfed.

This is a fund the ladies could very well do by dividing the disrticts up all over the Dominion and collecting tL is money, and no person can refuse to subscribe for if they can afford to do bo and xefusa they are worse than the biggest shirker, and are traitors to the Biitish Empire. We can tee the noble example gi/ls working in lactones and shops are setting, and by going back at night and making up necessary material, these gul9 are contributing much more than one shilling per wetk, and 1 am sure that there is no family in New Zealand whose head is working that cann-Jt afford one shilling per week and plenty can give far more. When the present children grow up they will be proud of the parents who gave at least one peony a week for them, and if the parents do not rise to the occasion 1 am sure in years to ccme they will drop their heads with shame. We know too well hew our herces and their dependents will b3 forgotten when the war is over, so now is the time to get this fund going. 1 may say that the Otahuhu Trotting Club, which has already subscribed £285 towards the Patriotic and Belgian Funds, is giving £IOO towards this fund and is going to give £lO monthly till the war is over, at.d 1 am proud to be chairman of such a club. A committee for a fund like this should be on a broad basis and representation in proportion to what their city, borough or county subscribe, say, Auckland city 3 representatives and the different mayors of the Boroughs and chariman of County Councils. In conclusion, 1 trust you will use your valuable influence through the Press, and I confidently call ou every Britisher to do their duty to the Empire and "Pay, pay, pay". -I am, etc., H. R. MacKENZIE, Chairman Manukau County Council and Mangere Road Buard. Mangere, 17th June, 1915.