WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1915 RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 115, 1 December 1915, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1915 RECOGNITION OF BRAVERY

Some little time ago Mr James Koiilston, in a letter in these columns, made the suggestion that a local patriotic fund should be established for the benefit of those returning to the diatirct from the front. It was in no way Mr Koulston's idea that the same should in any way interfere with the Provincial Fund, but hs foresaw that instances might arise whereby a monetary grant, given freely and spontaneously, would be acceptable to those who returning heme wounded or invalided had for their support to rely on Government payment?, whic*i in the ordinary course of official routine occasion delay. Although Mr Koulston's proposal was, wheu made, not adopted by the Patriotic Executive for reasons tbat the Provincial Fund was just being brought into being, application might now well be made by the Lower Waikato District Executive t? the Auckland Provincial Kelief Association for an allocaiion from the Council Funds, to which the district has so well contrituted, of some reasonable amount to be donated in equal sums to returned soldiers. In the Wairarapa a move hat already been made in this direction, and every Wairarapa scldier is to receive an unrestricted grant of £5 immediately on his return from the Front. Such action i 3 bound to b3 appreciated by the recipi:nt), whose pay, it should be remembered, is comparatively small and who receive no concession on tbe railway should they desire to visit relatives or friends. Prior to enlisting the gieat irajority ot men were engaged in occupation that brought them in an income considerably in excess of the 53 tier -day they receive tor service in the ranks, but cheertully they surrendered their positions to fight for their King and Empire. That some tangible form of expression of acknowledgment of their patriotism should be shown is only tight and pioper, and lor reasor s already indicated, corroborated as thty are by certain individual cases that have been brought under our notice, we would urge the local Executive to action with the certain knowledge that the little present of £5 would be the means of overcoming temporary difficulties, which with a modesty that can be easily understood the returned heroes are reluctant to acknowledge. If one and all were looked after in this way, irrespective of rank and position, the gift could in no way be regarded as a charitable dole, which under the circumstances would be quite out of place, but it would simply be evidence if public appreciation of the gallantry and self-denial that has characterised those who have donned the khaki uniform and have gone forth to asßist the Motherland.